M4.6 earthquake — 43 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea
An magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 43 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea on Sep 16, 2026 at 19:37 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 60 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 | 59.9 km |
| Coordinates | -5.540, 146.017 |
| Time | Sep 16, 19:37 UTC |
| Location | 43 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea |
| USGS event ID | us7000thx7 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.0 | 102 km | Sep 14, 22:06 UTC | 69 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea |
| M4.5 | 165 km | Sep 14, 06:19 UTC | 97 km NNE of Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.