M4.7 Earthquake 49 km E of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea — April 27, 2023
2023-04-27 17:45:33 UTC (2023-04-27) · approx. 3:45 AM UTC+10 local
On April 27, 2023 at 17:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 intermediate depth earthquake struck 49 km E of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 81.0 km and coordinates -4.2669°, 143.2616°. This earthquake was detected by 92 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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
143.2616°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Ambunti, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 49 km E of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea on April 27, 2023 at 17:45 UTC had a depth of 81.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -4.2669°, 143.2616°, which is 49 km E of Ambunti, 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 4.7 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 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jwci). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, April 27, 2023). M4.7 Earthquake 49 km E of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea — April 27, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jwci/