5.3

M5.3 Earthquake 162 km SSW of Lorengau, Papua New GuineaJune 29, 2025

2025-06-29 06:48:09 UTC (2025-06-29) · approx. 4:48 PM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM5.3(mww)
Time06:48 UTC4:48 PM UTC+10
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-3.301°, 146.531°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On June 29, 2025 at 06:48 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 162 km SSW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -3.3008°, 146.5308°. This earthquake was detected by 57 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 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 -3.30°, 146.53°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.3 mww
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
-3.3008°N
146.5308°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000q9hc
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
432
Stations Used
57
Azimuthal Gap
88.0°
Min Station Distance
1.502°
RMS Residual
0.99 sec
Last Updated
2025-09-04 20:40:01 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Lorengau, Papua New Guinea?

The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 162 km SSW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea on June 29, 2025 at 06:48 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -3.3008°, 146.5308°, which is 162 km SSW of Lorengau, 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 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000q9hc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, June 29, 2025). M5.3 Earthquake 162 km SSW of Lorengau, Papua New GuineaJune 29, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000q9hc/