Quake jolts Sumatra as tremors reach into northern Thailand

Officials confirm no damage or injuries after early morning tremors

Puntid Tantivangphaisal1 hour agoLast Updated: Saturday, September 13, 2025

160 1 minute read

Quake jolts Sumatra as tremors reach into northern Thailand | Thaiger — Photo courtesy of Paipibat

Thailand’s Earthquake Observation Division reported a 3.6-magnitude earthquake in northern Sumatra this morning, with light tremors also detected in parts of northern Thailand. Fortunately, no damage or injuries have been reported.

The quake struck at 4.27am local time today, September 13, centred in Indonesia’s northern Sumatra region at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located about 367 kilometres southwest of Satun’s Mueang district.

While the tremor was relatively minor and too far offshore to pose a threat to southern Thailand, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) said that the seismic event coincided with smaller quakes recorded closer to home.

The first local tremor, registering a magnitude of 1.5, was detected at 12.19am in Mae Hi subdistrict, Pai district, Mae Hong Son province. The shallow quake struck at a depth of only 3 kilometres.

Quake jolts Sumatra as tremors reach into northern Thailand | News by Thaiger — Photo courtesy of Earthquake Observation Division

A second tremor, stronger at 2.4 magnitude and 10 kilometres deep, was picked up at 6.14am just across the border in Myanmar, in a zone known for frequent low-level seismic activity.

Police and local officials in affected provinces confirmed that residents did not report any structural damage or injuries linked to the incidents, reported The Nation.

The TMD urged the public to stay alert but reassured that the quakes posed no significant risk.

“These tremors are part of normal seismic activity in the region.”

Northern Thailand, along with neighbouring Myanmar and Laos, sits on the edge of the Sunda Megathrust, one of the most seismically active zones in Southeast Asia. Although most quakes in the region are small, experts caution that residents should remain aware of earthquake preparedness measures.

For real-time updates, the Earthquake Observation Division advises following its official website at earthquake.tmd.go.th or its EarthquakeTMD channels on Facebook, X, Telegram, YouTube, and TikTok. A dedicated mobile app is also available for instant alerts.

Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Originally from Hong Kong, Puntid moved to Bangkok in 2020 to pursue further studies in translation. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Hong Kong. Puntid spent 8 years living in Manchester, UK. Before joining The Thaiger, Puntid has been a freelance translator for 2 years. In her free time, she enjoys swimming and listening to music, as well as writing short fiction and poetry.