M5.3 Earthquake 173 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea — January 21, 2025
2025-01-21 20:00:51 UTC (2025-01-21) · approx. 6:00 AM UTC+10 local
Aftershock of the M6.4 mainshock.
On January 21, 2025 at 20:00 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 173 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -3.0273°, 148.4775°. This earthquake was detected by 97 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — 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 6.4 mainshock that occurred 19 days ago 191 km SE of Lorengau, 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.
The epicenter is located in Papua New Guinea, a region characterized by the collision and subduction of the Pacific, Australian, and Solomon Sea plates. View all earthquakes in Papua New Guinea.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
148.4775°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Lorengau, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 173 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea on January 21, 2025 at 20:00 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -3.0273°, 148.4775°, which is 173 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea. View all earthquakes in Papua New Guinea.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 191 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Has Papua New Guinea had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Papua New Guinea was the M8.0 New Britain earthquake of July 18, 1971. Today's magnitude 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000plhj). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, January 21, 2025). M5.3 Earthquake 173 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea — January 21, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000plhj/