Recent earthquakes in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea sits at a complex collision of the Australian and Pacific plates and several smaller microplates, ringed by subduction zones and cut by major faults. This makes it one of the most seismically and volcanically active countries on Earth. The 1998 Aitape earthquake (M7.0) triggered a submarine landslide whose tsunami killed over 2,000 people. In the past 24 hours, Papua New Guinea has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.4 | Oct 25, 10:30 UTC | 72 km | 33 km ESE of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea |
| M5.2 | Oct 25, 03:29 UTC | 81 km | 63 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea |
| M4.4 | Oct 23, 06:34 UTC | 65 km | 19 km N of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea |
| M5.0 | Oct 22, 20:05 UTC | 10 km | 153 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea |
| M4.8 | Oct 22, 05:23 UTC | 57 km | 86 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea |
Notable recent activity
A moderate M5.4 earthquake struck 33 km ESE of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea at 10:30 UTC on Oct 25 at a depth of 72 km.
A moderate M5.2 earthquake struck 63 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea at 03:29 UTC on Oct 25 at a depth of 81 km.
A moderate M5.0 earthquake struck 153 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea at 20:05 UTC on Oct 22 at a depth of 10 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Papua New Guinea so seismically active?
Papua New Guinea lies where the fast-moving Pacific Plate collides with the Australian Plate through a tangle of microplates, trenches, and faults. This produces frequent large earthquakes and a chain of active volcanoes.
How often do large earthquakes strike Papua New Guinea?
Magnitude 7 earthquakes occur in or around Papua New Guinea most years. Many are offshore or beneath sparsely populated terrain, but events near towns or that trigger landslides and tsunamis can be devastating.
What was a notable earthquake in Papua New Guinea?
The July 17, 1998 Aitape earthquake, magnitude 7.0, triggered an underwater landslide whose tsunami killed more than 2,000 people along the northern coast. The 2018 Highlands earthquake (M7.5) caused widespread damage inland.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.