A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck 83 km W of Tobelo, Indonesia at a depth of about 70 km, reported by the USGS. Shaking would likely be felt in the surrounding region.
What this means for you
Most space weather passes without anyone noticing – but events like this are exactly why we watch the data. If conditions escalate, the first things affected are GPS accuracy, shortwave radio and, in severe cases, power grids. Now is a good moment to make sure your devices are charged and you know where your backup light sources are.
We track this in real time on our Space Weather Command Center – live storm levels, aurora maps and official NOAA alerts, explained in plain English.
Detected automatically from NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center data, July 20, 2026 at 17:30 UTC.
Source: USGS
Related Reading
Sky & Solar Conditions at the Time
Moon: First Quarter (40% illuminated), in Libra.
Notable planetary angles: Mars sextile Saturn (60°), Moon trine Mars (121°), Moon opposite Saturn (179°), Moon square Mercury (89°).
Concurrent space weather: planetary Kp index 1.0; strongest recent solar flare: M2.5-class.
This is a factual snapshot, not a claim of cause and effect – researchers are divided on whether lunar, planetary or solar factors influence seismic or weather activity. It’s included so readers can track the pattern for themselves over time.
Earthquakes Within ~400 km, Past 30 Days
For context, here is other recent seismic activity in the surrounding region (M2.5+, via USGS):
| Date & Time (UTC) | Magnitude | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-19 01:57 UTC | M4.8 | 127 km NNE of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-14 06:37 UTC | M4.4 | 191 km N of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-12 22:10 UTC | M4.4 | 167 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines |
| 2026-07-12 00:43 UTC | M4.9 | 241 km NNW of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-09 21:55 UTC | M4.5 | 145 km NNW of Ternate, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-09 01:16 UTC | M4.7 | 134 km E of Bitung, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-08 08:36 UTC | M4.8 | 64 km W of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-07 23:35 UTC | M4.6 | 132 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-07 14:21 UTC | M4.5 | 172 km NNW of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-07 07:16 UTC | M5.4 | 162 km NNW of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-05 16:38 UTC | M4.1 | 115 km SE of Bitung, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-04 09:02 UTC | M5.0 | 64 km W of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-03 08:11 UTC | M4.7 | 56 km W of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-03 04:17 UTC | M4.6 | 78 km W of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-07-03 02:31 UTC | M6.2 | 58 km W of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-06-30 18:24 UTC | M4.4 | 202 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines |
| 2026-06-30 14:26 UTC | M4.6 | 221 km NNE of Bitung, Indonesia |
| 2026-06-29 21:46 UTC | M4.1 | 155 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia |
| 2026-06-29 07:19 UTC | M4.6 | 131 km E of Bitung, Indonesia |
| 2026-06-29 04:23 UTC | M5.2 | 107 km SSW of Sarangani, Philippines |
Emergency number for Indonesia: 112 (General guidance – always verify locally, as this can vary by region.)
