M5.0 earthquake — 68 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea
A moderate magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred 68 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea on Sep 14, 2026 at 22:06 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 121 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 | M5.0 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 120.5 km |
| Coordinates | -6.264, 146.580 |
| Time | Sep 14, 22:06 UTC |
| Location | 68 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea |
| USGS event ID | us7000thhd |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M6.4 | 67 km | Sep 20, 09:17 UTC | 49 km NNE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea |
| M5.4 | 69 km | Sep 20, 12:45 UTC | 68 km NNE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea |
| M4.6 | 102 km | Sep 16, 19:37 UTC | 43 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.