M4.7 Earthquake 180 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea — February 17, 2023
2023-02-17 17:35:56 UTC (2023-02-17) · approx. 3:35 AM UTC+10 local
On February 17, 2023 at 17:35 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 deep-focus earthquake struck 180 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 491.8 km and coordinates -4.6761°, 155.0676°. This earthquake was detected by 147 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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
155.0676°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Arawa, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 180 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea on February 17, 2023 at 17:35 UTC had a depth of 491.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -4.6761°, 155.0676°, which is 180 km NNW of Arawa, 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 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days 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 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000jpqs). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, February 17, 2023). M4.7 Earthquake 180 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea — February 17, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000jpqs/