M4.3 Earthquake 52 km SSW of Wewak, Papua New Guinea — February 16, 2025
2025-02-16 21:02:35 UTC (2025-02-16) · approx. 7:02 AM UTC+10 local
On February 16, 2025 at 21:02 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 52 km SSW of Wewak, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 9.8 km and coordinates -3.9830°, 143.4362°.
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
143.4362°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Wewak, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 52 km SSW of Wewak, Papua New Guinea on February 16, 2025 at 21:02 UTC had a depth of 9.8 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: us6000pv6f). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, February 16, 2025). M4.3 Earthquake 52 km SSW of Wewak, Papua New Guinea — February 16, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pv6f/