M4.3 Earthquake 87 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — May 23, 2026
2026-05-23 23:37:31 UTC (2026-05-23) · approx. 9:37 AM UTC+10 local
On May 23, 2026 at 23:37 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 87 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 62.3 km and coordinates -5.1220°, 152.1135°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
152.1135°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 87 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on May 23, 2026 at 23:37 UTC had a depth of 62.3 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000spc6). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 23, 2026). M4.3 Earthquake 87 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — May 23, 2026. Retrieved June 9, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000spc6/