M5.1 Earthquake 93 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea — January 16, 2021
2021-01-16 06:37:31 UTC (2021-01-16) · approx. 4:37 PM UTC+10 local
On January 16, 2021 at 06:37 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 intermediate depth earthquake struck 93 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 130.2 km and coordinates -5.7211°, 148.8569°.
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
148.8569°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Kandrian, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 93 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on January 16, 2021 at 06:37 UTC had a depth of 130.2 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.7211°, 148.8569°, which is 93 km NW of Kandrian, 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: us7000d0lh). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, January 16, 2021). M5.1 Earthquake 93 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea — January 16, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000d0lh/