M4.6 earthquake — 73 km S of Panguna, Papua New Guinea
An magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 73 km S of Panguna, Papua New Guinea on Aug 23, 2026 at 14:06 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 29 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 | 28.6 km |
| Coordinates | -6.977, 155.510 |
| Time | Aug 23, 14:06 UTC |
| Location | 73 km S of Panguna, Papua New Guinea |
| USGS event ID | us6000tmzd |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.1 | 280 km | Aug 20, 18:25 UTC | 183 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.