M5.0 Earthquake 47 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea — July 16, 2021
2021-07-16 09:34:21 UTC (2021-07-16) · approx. 7:34 PM UTC+10 local
Aftershock of the M5.4 mainshock.
On July 16, 2021 at 09:34 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 47 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 50.8 km and coordinates -5.5771°, 146.0306°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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 5.4 mainshock that occurred 6 days ago 68 km NNE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 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
146.0306°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Madang, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 47 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea on July 16, 2021 at 09:34 UTC had a depth of 50.8 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.5771°, 146.0306°, which is 47 km SE of Madang, 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 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 68 km NNE of Kainantu, 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000emgl). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, July 16, 2021). M5.0 Earthquake 47 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea — July 16, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000emgl/