M4.2 Earthquake 148 km NW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea — December 22, 2024
2024-12-22 23:31:26 UTC (2024-12-22) · approx. 9:31 AM UTC+10 local
On December 22, 2024 at 23:31 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 148 km NW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 134.1 km and coordinates -5.4625°, 154.4533°.
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
154.4533°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 148 km NW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea on December 22, 2024 at 23:31 UTC had a depth of 134.1 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 4.2 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: us6000phm7). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 22, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 148 km NW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea — December 22, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000phm7/