M4.8 Earthquake 139 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — July 20, 2023
2023-07-20 07:03:35 UTC (2023-07-20) · approx. 5:03 PM UTC+10 local
On July 20, 2023 at 07:03 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 139 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 62.7 km and coordinates -5.5231°, 151.8352°. This earthquake was detected by 71 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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
151.8352°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 139 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on July 20, 2023 at 07:03 UTC had a depth of 62.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.5231°, 151.8352°, which is 139 km SSW 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 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kh1j). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 20, 2023). M4.8 Earthquake 139 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — July 20, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kh1j/