M5.2 Earthquake 55 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea — October 25, 2023
2023-10-25 03:49:26 UTC (2023-10-25) · approx. 1:49 PM UTC+10 local
On October 25, 2023 at 03:49 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 55 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 99.9 km and coordinates -6.4253°, 146.5876°. This earthquake was detected by 123 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
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
146.5876°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Lae, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 55 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea on October 25, 2023 at 03:49 UTC had a depth of 99.9 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -6.4253°, 146.5876°, which is 55 km NW of Lae, 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: us7000l65d). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 25, 2023). M5.2 Earthquake 55 km NW of Lae, Papua New Guinea — October 25, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000l65d/