M4.1 Earthquake 131 km WSW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea — May 9, 2025
2025-05-09 19:12:24 UTC (2025-05-09) · approx. 5:12 AM UTC+10 local
On May 9, 2025 at 19:12 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 intermediate depth earthquake struck 131 km WSW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 274.9 km and coordinates -4.6213°, 151.0574°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
151.0574°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Rabaul, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 131 km WSW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea on May 9, 2025 at 19:12 UTC had a depth of 274.9 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 4.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000q147). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, May 9, 2025). M4.1 Earthquake 131 km WSW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea — May 9, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000q147/