M4.5 earthquake — 101 km SW of Aitape, Papua New Guinea
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 101 km SW of Aitape, Papua New Guinea on Aug 30, 2026 at 18:18 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 46 km — a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes concentrate their energy near the surface, so they tend to produce stronger shaking close to the epicenter.
Event data
| Magnitude | M4.5 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 46.1 km |
| Coordinates | -3.850, 141.779 |
| Time | Aug 30, 18:18 UTC |
| Location | 101 km SW of Aitape, Papua New Guinea |
| USGS event ID | us7000tczy |
What this magnitude typically means
Light earthquakes are felt by most people nearby but rarely cause damage. Distance, depth, and soil type determine whether a quake feels sharp or barely noticeable. Tremor does not compute a single local shaking figure here, because how strong a quake feels at any address depends on distance, depth and local geology — open the interactive globe to explore the ShakeMap and estimated intensity.
Nearby recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Distance | Time (UTC) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.5 | 67 km | Aug 28, 12:21 UTC | 109 km S of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.