4.3

M4.3 Earthquake 116 km WSW of Rabaul, Papua New GuineaJanuary 14, 2025

2025-01-14 23:58:06 UTC (2025-01-14) · approx. 9:58 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.3(mb)
Time23:58 UTC9:58 AM UTC+10
Depth227.5 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-4.714°, 151.243°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On January 14, 2025 at 23:58 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 116 km WSW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 227.5 km and coordinates -4.7144°, 151.2425°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -4.71°, 151.24°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.3 mb
Depth
227.5 km
intermediate depth
Location
-4.7144°N
151.2425°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000pm2u
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
284
Stations Used
23
Azimuthal Gap
139.0°
Min Station Distance
0.880°
RMS Residual
0.71 sec
Last Updated
2025-03-20 20:55:49 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Rabaul, Papua New Guinea?

The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 116 km WSW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea on January 14, 2025 at 23:58 UTC had a depth of 227.5 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pm2u). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, January 14, 2025). M4.3 Earthquake 116 km WSW of Rabaul, Papua New GuineaJanuary 14, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pm2u/