M4.2 Earthquake 18 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea — November 24, 2023
2023-11-24 23:03:01 UTC (2023-11-24) · approx. 9:03 AM UTC+10 local
On November 24, 2023 at 23:03 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 18 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 51.2 km and coordinates -6.0647°, 149.4508°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred 4 days ago 28 km SW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
149.4508°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Kandrian, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 18 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on November 24, 2023 at 23:03 UTC had a depth of 51.2 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 28 km SW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000lelt). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, November 24, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 18 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea — November 24, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lelt/