4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 159 km S of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaApril 20, 2025

2025-04-20 19:25:48 UTC (2025-04-20) · approx. 5:25 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time19:25 UTC5:25 AM UTC+10
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-5.788°, 152.246°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On April 20, 2025 at 19:25 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 159 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -5.7883°, 152.2460°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -5.79°, 152.25°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
-5.7883°N
152.2460°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000pxiz
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
25
Azimuthal Gap
152.0°
Min Station Distance
1.589°
RMS Residual
0.70 sec
Last Updated
2025-06-27 00:35:09 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 159 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on April 20, 2025 at 19:25 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000pxiz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, April 20, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake 159 km S of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaApril 20, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000pxiz/