M5.1 Earthquake 180 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — August 20, 2026
2026-08-20 18:25:20 UTC (2026-08-20) · approx. 4:25 AM UTC+10 local
On August 20, 2026 at 18:25 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 180 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -5.4780°, 153.4364°. This earthquake was detected by 51 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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
Earthquake Details
153.4364°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 180 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on August 20, 2026 at 18:25 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.4780°, 153.4364°, which is 180 km SE of Kokopo, 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 5.1 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tm8j). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 20, 2026). M5.1 Earthquake 180 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — August 20, 2026. Retrieved September 2, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tm8j/