Labuan Bajo, Indonesia — A magnitude 4.9 earthquake shook the waters off Flores Island early Monday morning, striking in the sea northeast of Labuan Bajo in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province.

What happened: The U.S. Geological Survey reports the quake struck at 4:45 a.m. Central Time (5:45 p.m. local time), centered about 54 kilometers northeast of Labuan Bajo at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The USGS did not issue a tsunami warning for this quake.

Impacts: No damage or injury reports are available yet. A shallow quake of this size can rattle dishes, shake loose objects off shelves, and crack plaster near the epicenter, but Labuan Bajo sits far enough from the center that the strongest shaking likely stayed offshore.

What to do:

- Drop, cover, and hold on if you feel shaking — get under a sturdy table and stay there until it stops.

- Move away from glass windows and anything that could topple.

- If you are indoors, stay indoors; if you are outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings.

- Be ready for aftershocks — check gas lines, wiring, and walls for damage before going back inside a damaged building.

*Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 19, 2026. Reported by TNW News.*