M5.2 Earthquake 55 km WNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea — December 18, 2020
2020-12-18 10:16:50 UTC (2020-12-18) · approx. 8:16 PM UTC+10 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On December 18, 2020 at 10:16 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 55 km WNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 41.5 km and coordinates -6.2887°, 147.4216°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 10 days ago 72 km NW of Finschhafen, 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.
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
147.4216°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 55 km WNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea on December 18, 2020 at 10:16 UTC had a depth of 41.5 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -6.2887°, 147.4216°, which is 55 km WNW of Finschhafen, 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 72 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000cs39). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 18, 2020). M5.2 Earthquake 55 km WNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea — December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000cs39/