M4.3 Earthquake 74 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea — March 13, 2021
2021-03-13 22:18:56 UTC (2021-03-13) · approx. 8:18 AM UTC+10 local
On March 13, 2021 at 22:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 74 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 78.8 km and coordinates -6.0743°, 147.1927°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 5 days ago 72 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
147.1927°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Lae, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 74 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea on March 13, 2021 at 22:18 UTC had a depth of 78.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 72 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000dvqz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, March 13, 2021). M4.3 Earthquake 74 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea — March 13, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000dvqz/