Earthquake strikes off the coast of Bali as locals and tourists feel ‘hectic’ tremors on the island
Tourists and locals have reported feeling an earthquake off the coast of Bali, with some describing the tremors as ‘hectic’.
The United States Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 5.1 earthquake at a depth of 10km on Tuesday.
‘Did you feel the earthquake? Run,’ one social media user wrote from Legian, around 20km from Denpasar Airport, Bali’s main international airport.
Other users reported feeling the earthquake in Ubud and Canggu, popular destinations for Australian holidaymakers.
The latest tremor comes after a series of earthquakes measuring above magnitude 5 struck other parts of Indonesia in recent days, according to the country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
These included a 5.7-magnitude quake off West Java on October 11 and another 5.7-magnitude tremor near Gorontalo on October 12.
Adam Pascale, from the Seismology Research Centre, advised Australians travelling to earthquake-prone regions such as Indonesia to familiarise themselves with safety procedures, noting they may be unaccustomed to experiencing strong earthquakes.
‘If you feel a strong tremor, drop, cover and hold on,’ he said.
The United States Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 5.1 earthquake at a depth of 10km on Tuesday (stock image)
‘Did you feel the earthquake? Run,’ one social media user wrote from Legian, around 20km from Denpasar Airport, Bali’s main international airport
‘Drop down to the ground, find cover and hold on. Most injuries happen from falling objects, so it is important to follow these guidelines. Do not run outside.’
Mr Pascale also warned of the potential tsunami risk following strong shaking, advising people to move to higher ground and stay away from beaches.
He said earthquake safety was an important topic during Earth Science Week, which is taking place this week, with schools and businesses among those expected to take part in the Great ShakeOut earthquake safety drill on Thursday.
In August, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Flores in eastern Indonesia, reportedly killing at least 47 people and damaging homes and other buildings.
The quake also triggered landslides and prompted authorities to issue a tsunami warning, which was later lifted.
Indonesia is Australia’s most popular overseas travel destination, with around 1.75 million visits by Australian residents in 2025, according to Tourism Research Australia.
