M4.4 Earthquake 34 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea — March 21, 2023
2023-03-21 22:45:30 UTC (2023-03-21) · approx. 8:45 AM UTC+10 local
On March 21, 2023 at 22:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 34 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 42.3 km and coordinates -6.4354°, 147.1046°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
147.1046°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Lae, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 34 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea on March 21, 2023 at 22:45 UTC had a depth of 42.3 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jmii). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 21, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake 34 km NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea — March 21, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jmii/