M4.4 Earthquake 135 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — January 29, 2026
2026-01-29 21:42:40 UTC (2026-01-29) · approx. 7:42 AM UTC+10 local
On January 29, 2026 at 21:42 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 135 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 155.6 km and coordinates -5.2409°, 151.4329°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — 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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 25 days ago 145 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
151.4329°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 135 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on January 29, 2026 at 21:42 UTC had a depth of 155.6 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.4 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 145 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000s5c8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 29, 2026). M4.4 Earthquake 135 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — January 29, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000s5c8/