M4.5 Earthquake 38 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea — December 17, 2022
2022-12-17 21:58:13 UTC (2022-12-17) · approx. 7:58 AM UTC+10 local
Aftershock of the M5.1 mainshock.
On December 17, 2022 at 21:58 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 38 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 58.7 km and coordinates -6.2941°, 147.6151°. This earthquake was detected by 34 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 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 5.1 mainshock that occurred 21 days ago 63 km NNE of Lae, 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.
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
147.6151°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 38 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea on December 17, 2022 at 21:58 UTC had a depth of 58.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -6.2941°, 147.6151°, which is 38 km NW of Finschhafen, 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 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 63 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ja2e). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 17, 2022). M4.5 Earthquake 38 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea — December 17, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ja2e/