M4.2 Earthquake 149 km NW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea — October 9, 2023
2023-10-09 23:27:56 UTC (2023-10-09) · approx. 9:27 AM UTC+10 local
On October 9, 2023 at 23:27 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 149 km NW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 154.8 km and coordinates -5.5395°, 154.3782°.
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
154.3782°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Panguna, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 149 km NW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea on October 9, 2023 at 23:27 UTC had a depth of 154.8 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 4.2 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: us6000lf5l). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 9, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 149 km NW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea — October 9, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lf5l/