4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 115 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaMarch 17, 2024

2024-03-17 21:48:30 UTC (2024-03-17) · approx. 7:48 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time21:48 UTC7:48 AM UTC+10
Depth64.7 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-4.695°, 153.244°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 17, 2024 at 21:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 115 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 64.7 km and coordinates -4.6948°, 153.2442°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -4.69°, 153.24°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
64.7 km
shallow crustal
Location
-4.6948°N
153.2442°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000mkaj
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
44
Azimuthal Gap
119.0°
Min Station Distance
1.290°
RMS Residual
0.69 sec
Last Updated
2024-05-18 21:24:23 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 115 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on March 17, 2024 at 21:48 UTC had a depth of 64.7 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mkaj). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 17, 2024). M4.4 Earthquake 115 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaMarch 17, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mkaj/