4.7

M4.7 Earthquake 132 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New GuineaApril 30, 2025

2025-04-30 13:45:46 UTC (2025-04-30) · approx. 11:45 PM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.7(mb)
Time13:45 UTC11:45 PM UTC+10
Depth205.3 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-5.506°, 147.265°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On April 30, 2025 at 13:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 intermediate depth earthquake struck 132 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 205.3 km and coordinates -5.5065°, 147.2650°. This earthquake was detected by 111 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -5.51°, 147.26°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.7 mb
Depth
205.3 km
intermediate depth
Location
-5.5065°N
147.2650°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000pw3b
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
340
Stations Used
111
Azimuthal Gap
28.0°
Min Station Distance
3.442°
RMS Residual
0.55 sec
Last Updated
2025-07-12 16:30:40 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea?

The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 132 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea on April 30, 2025 at 13:45 UTC had a depth of 205.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.5065°, 147.2650°, which is 132 km NNW of Finschhafen, 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 4.7 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 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000pw3b). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, April 30, 2025). M4.7 Earthquake 132 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New GuineaApril 30, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000pw3b/