M4.2 Earthquake 54 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea — August 16, 2026
2026-08-16 05:59:03 UTC (2026-08-16) · approx. 3:59 PM UTC+10 local
On August 16, 2026 at 05:59 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 54 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 96.6 km and coordinates -6.3130°, 146.7206°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
146.7206°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Lae, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 54 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea on August 16, 2026 at 05:59 UTC had a depth of 96.6 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tl5y). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 16, 2026). M4.2 Earthquake 54 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea — August 16, 2026. Retrieved August 26, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tl5y/