M4.3 Earthquake 125 km SSW of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea — August 20, 2026
2026-08-20 16:03:11 UTC (2026-08-20) · approx. 1:03 AM UTC+9 local
On August 20, 2026 at 16:03 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 125 km SSW of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -3.7909°, 141.0635°.
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
141.0635°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Vanimo, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 125 km SSW of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea on August 20, 2026 at 16:03 UTC had a depth of 35.0 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000tc6w). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 20, 2026). M4.3 Earthquake 125 km SSW of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea — August 20, 2026. Retrieved August 29, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tc6w/