M4.2 Earthquake 123 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea — September 16, 2026
2026-09-16 00:31:39 UTC (2026-09-16) · approx. 10:31 AM UTC+10 local
On September 16, 2026 at 00:31 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 123 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 136.6 km and coordinates -5.6094°, 147.2651°.
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
147.2651°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 123 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea on September 16, 2026 at 00:31 UTC had a depth of 136.6 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tww4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 16, 2026). M4.2 Earthquake 123 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea — September 16, 2026. Retrieved September 22, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tww4/