M4.8 Earthquake 126 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — May 20, 2021
2021-05-20 21:42:28 UTC (2021-05-20) · approx. 7:42 AM UTC+10 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On May 20, 2021 at 21:42 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 126 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 45.4 km and coordinates -5.4030°, 151.8359°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 3 days ago 139 km SW of Kokopo, 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
151.8359°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 126 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on May 20, 2021 at 21:42 UTC had a depth of 45.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.4030°, 151.8359°, which is 126 km SSW 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 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 139 km SW of Kokopo, 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000e4wg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, May 20, 2021). M4.8 Earthquake 126 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — May 20, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000e4wg/