4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 99 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaOctober 20, 2024

2024-10-20 17:34:10 UTC (2024-10-20) · approx. 3:34 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time17:34 UTC3:34 AM UTC+10
Depth40.2 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-5.061°, 152.810°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 20, 2024 at 17:34 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 99 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 40.2 km and coordinates -5.0607°, 152.8101°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -5.06°, 152.81°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
40.2 km
shallow crustal
Location
-5.0607°N
152.8101°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000nqmu
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
26
Azimuthal Gap
154.0°
Min Station Distance
1.078°
RMS Residual
0.81 sec
Last Updated
2024-12-26 23:03:45 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 99 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on October 20, 2024 at 17:34 UTC had a depth of 40.2 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nqmu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, October 20, 2024). M4.4 Earthquake 99 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaOctober 20, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nqmu/