M4.1 Earthquake 70 km ESE of Madang, Papua New Guinea — February 16, 2022
2022-02-16 18:50:50 UTC (2022-02-16) · approx. 4:50 AM UTC+10 local
On February 16, 2022 at 18:50 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 intermediate depth earthquake struck 70 km ESE of Madang, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 149.9 km and coordinates -5.4963°, 146.3609°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 m — 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 5.5 mainshock that occurred 29 days ago 118 km ESE of Madang, 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.
Earthquake Details
146.3609°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Madang, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 70 km ESE of Madang, Papua New Guinea on February 16, 2022 at 18:50 UTC had a depth of 149.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.5 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.1 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.5 mainshock that occurred earlier 118 km ESE of Madang, Papua New Guinea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000gmt0). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, February 16, 2022). M4.1 Earthquake 70 km ESE of Madang, Papua New Guinea — February 16, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000gmt0/