4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 73 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New GuineaDecember 28, 2024

2024-12-28 18:11:44 UTC (2024-12-28) · approx. 4:11 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time18:11 UTC4:11 AM UTC+10
Depth140.5 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-5.742°, 149.075°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 28, 2024 at 18:11 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 73 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 140.5 km and coordinates -5.7422°, 149.0745°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -5.74°, 149.07°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
140.5 km
intermediate depth
Location
-5.7422°N
149.0745°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000pg6c
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
82
Azimuthal Gap
88.0°
Min Station Distance
3.268°
RMS Residual
0.76 sec
Last Updated
2025-03-08 22:39:11 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Kandrian, Papua New Guinea?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 73 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on December 28, 2024 at 18:11 UTC had a depth of 140.5 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pg6c). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 28, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 73 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New GuineaDecember 28, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pg6c/