Lospalos, Timor Leste — A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck in the waters northeast of Timor Leste early Wednesday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

What happened: The quake hit at 2:44 AM CDT (4:44 PM local time), centered about 164 kilometers northeast of Lospalos, at a depth of roughly 123 kilometers. Deeper quakes like this one are usually felt over a wider area but cause less surface shaking than shallow ones.

Impacts: The USGS is collecting felt reports from the region. No damage or tsunami information was available at publication time.

What to do:

- Drop, cover, and hold on during shaking.

- Check for hazards such as fallen objects and damaged utilities after the shaking ends.

- Stay alert for aftershocks and keep away from weakened buildings.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 21, 2026. Reported by TNW News.