M4.6 earthquake — 143 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
An magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 143 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on Sep 12, 2026 at 12:46 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 41 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 | M4.6 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 41.2 km |
| Coordinates | -5.114, 153.311 |
| Time | Sep 12, 12:46 UTC |
| Location | 143 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea |
| USGS event ID | us7000ti41 |
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 | 197 km | Sep 16, 20:21 UTC | 190 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.