M5.1 earthquake — 180 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
A moderate magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred 180 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on Aug 20, 2026 at 18:25 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 35 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 | M5.1 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 35.0 km |
| Coordinates | -5.478, 153.436 |
| Time | Aug 20, 18:25 UTC |
| Location | 180 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea |
| USGS event ID | us6000tm8j |
What this magnitude typically means
Moderate earthquakes are widely felt and can cause light damage close to the epicenter. The shaking you actually experience depends on how far away you are and what kind of ground you are on. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.0 | 205 km | Aug 28, 20:19 UTC | 191 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea |
| M4.4 | 233 km | Aug 27, 23:50 UTC | 33 km NNW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.