M5.3 earthquake — 72 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea
A moderate magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred 72 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea on Sep 24, 2026 at 23:30 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 54 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 | M5.3 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 53.6 km |
| Coordinates | -6.086, 147.393 |
| Time | Sep 24, 23:30 UTC |
| Location | 72 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea |
| USGS event ID | us6000txhp |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.4 | 136 km | Sep 20, 12:45 UTC | 68 km NNE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea |
| M6.4 | 145 km | Sep 20, 09:17 UTC | 49 km NNE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.