4.6

M4.6 Earthquake 109 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaNovember 11, 2021

2021-11-11 14:18:17 UTC (2021-11-11) · approx. 12:18 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.6(mb)
Time14:18 UTC12:18 AM UTC+10
Depth39.4 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-5.021°, 152.986°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On November 11, 2021 at 14:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 109 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 39.4 km and coordinates -5.0214°, 152.9864°.

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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -5.02°, 152.99°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.6 mb
Depth
39.4 km
shallow crustal
Location
-5.0214°N
152.9864°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000ft9m
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
326
Azimuthal Gap
42.0°
Min Station Distance
1.163°
RMS Residual
1.08 sec
Last Updated
2022-01-15 20:51:49 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 109 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on November 11, 2021 at 14:18 UTC had a depth of 39.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.0214°, 152.9864°, which is 109 km SE 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 4.6 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: us7000ft9m). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, November 11, 2021). M4.6 Earthquake 109 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaNovember 11, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ft9m/