M4.4 Earthquake 99 km SSE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea — April 20, 2024
2024-04-20 22:02:12 UTC (2024-04-20) · approx. 8:02 AM UTC+10 local
On April 20, 2024 at 22:02 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 99 km SSE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 10.1 km and coordinates -6.9852°, 156.0902°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 6.2 mainshock that occurred 1 day ago 79 km SSE of Panguna, Papua New Guinea. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
156.0902°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Kieta, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 99 km SSE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea on April 20, 2024 at 22:02 UTC had a depth of 10.1 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.4 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 79 km SSE of Panguna, Papua New Guinea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mu13). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, April 20, 2024). M4.4 Earthquake 99 km SSE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea — April 20, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mu13/