M4.2 earthquake — 28 km S of Goroka, Papua New Guinea
An magnitude 4.2 earthquake occurred 28 km S of Goroka, Papua New Guinea on Oct 20, 2026 at 00:05 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 10 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 | M4.2 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -6.340, 145.376 |
| Time | Oct 20, 00:05 UTC |
| Location | 28 km S of Goroka, Papua New Guinea |
| USGS event ID | us6000u3jj |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.8 | 77 km | Oct 18, 00:28 UTC | 31 km SE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.