M4.9 earthquake — 21 km NE of Lae, Papua New Guinea
An magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred 21 km NE of Lae, Papua New Guinea on Oct 4, 2026 at 01:38 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 94 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 | M4.9 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 94.2 km |
| Coordinates | -6.592, 147.135 |
| Time | Oct 4, 01:38 UTC |
| Location | 21 km NE of Lae, Papua New Guinea |
| USGS event ID | us6000tzfv |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.6 | 60 km | Oct 3, 17:24 UTC | 76 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea |
| M4.4 | 171 km | Oct 3, 11:05 UTC | 116 km NNE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.