M4.6 Earthquake 98 km NE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea — December 14, 2024
2024-12-14 16:44:54 UTC (2024-12-14) · approx. 2:44 AM UTC+10 local
On December 14, 2024 at 16:44 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 98 km NE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 63.6 km and coordinates -5.7783°, 146.5939°. This earthquake was detected by 117 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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
146.5939°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Kainantu, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 98 km NE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea on December 14, 2024 at 16:44 UTC had a depth of 63.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.7783°, 146.5939°, which is 98 km NE of Kainantu, 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 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nyvu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 14, 2024). M4.6 Earthquake 98 km NE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea — December 14, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nyvu/