M5.2 Earthquake 252 km NW of Kiunga, Papua New Guinea — March 31, 2022
2022-03-31 23:18:16 UTC (2022-03-31) · approx. 8:18 AM UTC+9 local
On March 31, 2022 at 23:18 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 252 km NW of Kiunga, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -4.8078°, 139.4267°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 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
139.4267°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Kiunga, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 252 km NW of Kiunga, Papua New Guinea on March 31, 2022 at 23:18 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -4.8078°, 139.4267°, which is 252 km NW of Kiunga, 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 5.2 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 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000gyu7). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, March 31, 2022). M5.2 Earthquake 252 km NW of Kiunga, Papua New Guinea — March 31, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000gyu7/