INDOPOSCO.ID – Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has confirmed that the earthquake which struck Pacitan Regency, East Java, early Friday (Feb. 6, 2026), was a shallow megathrust earthquake.
BMKG’s Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis, Daryono, told reporters via the national seismic information group in Jakarta on Friday that the quake was generated by an upward movement, or thrusting mechanism, a characteristic feature of earthquakes along the southern Java megathrust subduction zone.
BMKG noted that the public should be grateful the earthquake did not reach a magnitude of 7.0, as a stronger event could potentially have triggered a tsunami along the southern coast of Java.
According to Daryono, historical records show that the Pacitan region has experienced tsunamis in the past, including events on Jan. 4, 1840, and Oct. 20, 1859, both of which followed major earthquakes along the southern Java subduction zone.
Geographically, he explained, Pacitan lies directly opposite the Java megathrust zone and features numerous bays and narrow coastlines that could amplify tsunami wave heights in the event of a large earthquake.
Earlier, BMKG detected a magnitude 6.2 earthquake at 1:06 a.m. WIB, with the epicenter located offshore at a depth of 58 kilometers southeast of Pacitan.
The tremor was felt across several regions, including Pacitan, Bantul, and Sleman (IV MMI intensity); Kulon Progo, Trenggalek, Wonogiri, Malang, Blitar, Surakarta, and Banjarnegara (III MMI); as well as Tuban and Jepara (II MMI).
BMKG modeling results indicated that the earthquake did not have tsunami potential, and as of 1:35 a.m. WIB, no aftershocks had been recorded.
Based on preliminary data from the East Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the quake caused severe damage to one house in Pacitan, minor damage to one house in Wonogiri, four houses in Bantul, and one house in Sleman. (aro)
