5.2

M5.2 Earthquake 27 km WSW of Madang, Papua New GuineaMay 10, 2026

2026-05-10 16:34:33 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 2:34 AM UTC+10 local

Felt by 2 people across nearby locations.

MagnitudeM5.2(mww)
Time16:34 UTC2:34 AM UTC+10
Depth91.2 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-5.317°, 145.554°
Felt by2DYFI responses
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 10, 2026 at 16:34 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 27 km WSW of Madang, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 91.2 km and coordinates -5.3168°, 145.5539°. This earthquake was detected by 59 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 417, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -5.32°, 145.55°

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 2 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M5.2 earthquake near 27 km WSW of Madang, Papua New Guinea

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.2 mww
Depth
91.2 km
intermediate depth
Location
-5.3168°N
145.5539°E
Felt Reports
2
DYFI responses
Community Intensity
3.8
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000swr6
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
417
Stations Used
59
Azimuthal Gap
33.0°
Min Station Distance
4.362°
RMS Residual
1.05 sec
Last Updated
2026-05-10 18:09:19 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Madang, Papua New Guinea?

The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 27 km WSW of Madang, Papua New Guinea on May 10, 2026 at 16:34 UTC had a depth of 91.2 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.3168°, 145.5539°, which is 27 km WSW of Madang, 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 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

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 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

What should I do after an earthquake?

If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000swr6). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 10, 2026). M5.2 Earthquake 27 km WSW of Madang, Papua New GuineaMay 10, 2026. Retrieved May 10, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000swr6/