M4.5 earthquake — 131 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 131 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea on Aug 9, 2026 at 18:11 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 118 km — an intermediate-depth earthquake. Intermediate quakes spread their energy over a wider area and are often felt across a broad region.
Event data
| Magnitude | M4.5 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 117.6 km |
| Coordinates | -5.794, 154.422 |
| Time | Aug 9, 18:11 UTC |
| Location | 131 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea |
| USGS event ID | us6000tjgl |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.1 | 106 km | Aug 20, 18:25 UTC | 183 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.