A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the Simalungun district of North Sumatra on Saturday afternoon, according to reports from AFU.id. The quake’s tremors were felt as far away as the provinces of Aceh and West Sumatra, the outlet reported.
The earthquake occurred on land, according to detikNews, and was centered near the Simalungun area. Multiple Indonesian news outlets, including CNBC Indonesia, described it as a major event, with shaking reported in the nearby city of Pematangsiantar. The national disaster management agency, BNPB, also issued a report on the quake, confirming the magnitude and location.
In response to the seismic event, state railway operator KAI temporarily halted all train services across North Sumatra, as reported by Kompas.com. The suspension was a precautionary measure following the quake, the outlet noted.
The earthquake struck on Saturday, 15 August 2026, at approximately 11:36 GMT, according to the time stamp on the AFU.id report. The full extent of damage or injuries has not yet been detailed in the available reporting.
Authorities and disaster response teams will likely continue to assess the impact of the quake in the coming hours. Residents in the affected regions are advised to stay alert for potential aftershocks, though no further official guidance has been published at this time.
