4.1

M4.1 Earthquake 136 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaSeptember 6, 2026

2026-09-06 22:15:03 UTC (5 days ago) · approx. 8:15 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.1(mb)
Time22:15 UTC8:15 AM UTC+10
Depth35.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-5.234°, 153.124°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 6, 2026 at 22:15 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 136 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -5.2338°, 153.1235°.

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.

This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred 22 days ago 180 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -5.23°, 153.12°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.1 mb
Depth
35.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
-5.2338°N
153.1235°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000tgp9
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
259
Stations Used
11
Azimuthal Gap
160.0°
Min Station Distance
1.410°
RMS Residual
0.29 sec
Last Updated
2026-09-11 22:39:19 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea?

The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 136 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on September 6, 2026 at 22:15 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 4.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 4.1 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 180 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000tgp9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 6, 2026). M4.1 Earthquake 136 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaSeptember 6, 2026. Retrieved September 11, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tgp9/