A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Minahassa Peninsula in Sulawesi, Indonesia, at 12:25 AM local time on August 16, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The earthquake's epicenter was located at 0.1 degrees South and 120.6 degrees East, about 116 kilometers northeast of Palu, Indonesia, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers [1, 2, 3, 4].
Tremors from the quake were felt across several districts on the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia, including Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak, and Semporna [1, 2, 3, 4]. Residents reported brief shaking lasting approximately five seconds. Nurul Istiqfarinah Hanafi said, "I had just finished work and on the way to my car I felt wobbly for a moment, I thought the road was uneven but it wasn't" [3]. Another resident, Mohd Azlan Ibrahim, recalled, "The tremors happened very quickly, around five seconds, and I immediately woke my family members because I was worried that something bad would happen" [3].
Siti Rahmah Kassem described waking her family and neighbors to evacuate their house safely before returning within 30 minutes, noting, "There was no damage to our house" [3]. Authorities, including the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department, advised residents to stay calm and follow safety instructions. Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Station chief Sumsoa Rashid urged the public to "always obey safety instructions" [3].
Officials confirmed that the earthquake posed no tsunami threat to Malaysia [1, 2, 3, 4]. No reports of damage to buildings or infrastructure in Sabah have emerged following the event [3].
The earthquake's impact was monitored throughout the morning, with authorities continuing to assess safety conditions in affected areas.
