M5.3 Earthquake 103 km SSE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea — March 29, 2021
2021-03-29 07:43:38 UTC (2021-03-29) · approx. 5:43 PM UTC+10 local
On March 29, 2021 at 07:43 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 103 km SSE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 60.4 km and coordinates -7.0210°, 156.1069°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Papua New Guinea, a region characterized by the collision and subduction of the Pacific, Australian, and Solomon Sea plates. View all earthquakes in Papua New Guinea.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
156.1069°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Kieta, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 103 km SSE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea on March 29, 2021 at 07:43 UTC had a depth of 60.4 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -7.0210°, 156.1069°, which is 103 km SSE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea. View all earthquakes in Papua New Guinea.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Has Papua New Guinea had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Papua New Guinea was the M8.0 New Britain earthquake of July 18, 1971. Today's magnitude 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000dxcb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, March 29, 2021). M5.3 Earthquake 103 km SSE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea — March 29, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000dxcb/