M4.6 Earthquake 52 km W of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea — December 19, 2020
2020-12-19 20:58:26 UTC (2020-12-19) · approx. 5:58 AM UTC+9 local
On December 19, 2020 at 20:58 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 52 km W of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 108.2 km and coordinates -4.1988°, 142.3491°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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
142.3491°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Ambunti, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 52 km W of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea on December 19, 2020 at 20:58 UTC had a depth of 108.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -4.1988°, 142.3491°, which is 52 km W of Ambunti, 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 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000csj5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 19, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 52 km W of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea — December 19, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000csj5/