The May 2006 Java earthquake occurred at 05:54 local time on 27 May 2006, in the Indian Ocean around 25 km (15 miles) south-southwest of the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, near Galur, on the southern side of the island of Java, 17 km below the seabed.  The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.3. Two aftershocks, measured at 4.8 and 4.6, occurred between 4 and 6 hours later.

The region most seriously affected by the earthquake lies on the Bantul plain south of the town of Yogyakarta. This plain is very densely populated, with people living in small villages separated by rice fields and remnant sugar cane fields that used to feed a number of large sugar factories. The last remaining sugar factory of the region lies between Bantul and Yogyakarta.

According to the latest news, there have been 6,234 deaths, while 36,299 people have been injured, 135,000 houses damaged, and an estimated 1.5 million left homeless. 3,580 of those deaths and more than 1,892 injuries occurred in the area of Bantul, while 1,668 others died in Klaten district.  Around five million people live within 50 km of the epicentre.

Coastal residents fled inland in fear of a tsunami, but such an event did not transpire. Borobudur, an ancient Buddhist stupa well north of the earthquake area, apparently survived completely intact, but the Hindu temple at Prambanan which, being located on the city outskirts, is significantly closer to the main earthquake area, suffered substantial damage and was closed for assessment. The Royal Graveyard of Imogiri, just east of Bantul, was extensively damaged and has been closed to public access.