M5.0 Earthquake 118 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — September 10, 2021
2021-09-10 20:09:34 UTC (2021-09-10) · approx. 6:09 AM UTC+10 local
On September 10, 2021 at 20:09 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 118 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 59.4 km and coordinates -4.6960°, 153.2794°.
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.
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
153.2794°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 118 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on September 10, 2021 at 20:09 UTC had a depth of 59.4 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -4.6960°, 153.2794°, which is 118 km ESE 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 5.0 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000fa4u). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 10, 2021). M5.0 Earthquake 118 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — September 10, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000fa4u/