M4.3 Earthquake 115 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea — March 16, 2024
2024-03-16 21:09:35 UTC (2024-03-16) · approx. 7:09 AM UTC+10 local
On March 16, 2024 at 21:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 115 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 147.3 km and coordinates -5.7012°, 147.2107°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
147.2107°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Lae, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 115 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea on March 16, 2024 at 21:09 UTC had a depth of 147.3 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mk85). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 16, 2024). M4.3 Earthquake 115 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea — March 16, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mk85/