M4.9 Earthquake 123 km NE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea — December 23, 2023
2023-12-23 11:48:16 UTC (2023-12-23) · approx. 9:48 PM UTC+10 local
On December 23, 2023 at 11:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 deep-focus earthquake struck 123 km NE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 310.2 km and coordinates -4.6342°, 150.7773°. This earthquake was detected by 106 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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
150.7773°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Kimbe, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 123 km NE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea on December 23, 2023 at 11:48 UTC had a depth of 310.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -4.6342°, 150.7773°, which is 123 km NE of Kimbe, 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 4.9 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ll2n). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 23, 2023). M4.9 Earthquake 123 km NE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea — December 23, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ll2n/