M4.2 Earthquake 90 km N of Lae, Papua New Guinea — May 5, 2023
2023-05-05 17:29:08 UTC (2023-05-05) · approx. 3:29 AM UTC+10 local
On May 5, 2023 at 17:29 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 90 km N of Lae, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 90.6 km and coordinates -5.9120°, 147.1073°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
147.1073°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Lae, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 90 km N of Lae, Papua New Guinea on May 5, 2023 at 17:29 UTC had a depth of 90.6 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000k9uc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 5, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 90 km N of Lae, Papua New Guinea — May 5, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000k9uc/