Dili, Timor-Leste —

What happened:

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck the waters northeast of Timor-Leste early this morning. The U.S. Geological Survey places the epicenter about 207 kilometers northeast of Lospalos, at a depth of roughly 128 kilometers below the surface. The shaking hit at 7:24 AM Central Time (12:24 PM local time in Timor-Leste).

Impacts:

At that depth, an earthquake of this size rarely rattles anyone on land. No injuries or damage are reported at this time, and the depth of the quake means there is no tsunami threat.

What to do:

- Drop, cover, and hold on if shaking ever catches you indoors.

- Step away from windows, shelves, and anything that could topple.

- After the shaking stops, check gas, water, and power lines before settling back in.

- Expect the ground could move again — aftershocks are common after any earthquake.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 23, 2026. Reported by TNW News.