Earthquake Hits Over 2,500km from Malé; No Threat to Maldives, Says MET

An earthquake measuring 6.1 in magnitude struck offshore near Indonesia’s Sumatra region this morning, with the Maldives Meteorological Service stating that the tremor occurred 2,581 kilometres from the Maldivian capital, Malé, at 09:56 am local time.

The earthquake originated offshore from the northeastern tip of Sumatra at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres.

The meteorological service confirmed that there was no threat to the Maldives following the seismic event. Authorities reassured the public that the distant earthquake was unlikely to have any impact on the country.

Sumatra is part of Indonesia, a region that experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. The Pacific Ring of Fire is a zone of intense geological activity where tectonic plates collide, making the surrounding areas prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The Pacific Ring of Fire extends from Japan across Southeast Asia and into the wider Pacific basin.