M4.3 Earthquake 107 km NW of Alotau, Papua New Guinea — December 28, 2024
2024-12-28 18:28:15 UTC (2024-12-28) · approx. 4:28 AM UTC+10 local
On December 28, 2024 at 18:28 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 107 km NW of Alotau, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -9.6120°, 149.7821°.
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
149.7821°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Alotau, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 107 km NW of Alotau, Papua New Guinea on December 28, 2024 at 18:28 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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: us6000piwy). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 28, 2024). M4.3 Earthquake 107 km NW of Alotau, Papua New Guinea — December 28, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000piwy/