M5.1 Earthquake 112 km ESE of Madang, Papua New Guinea — August 16, 2026
2026-08-16 10:59:10 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 8:59 PM UTC+10 local
On August 16, 2026 at 10:59 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 intermediate depth earthquake struck 112 km ESE of Madang, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 138.7 km and coordinates -5.5481°, 146.7476°. This earthquake was detected by 111 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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
Earthquake Details
146.7476°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Madang, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 112 km ESE of Madang, Papua New Guinea on August 16, 2026 at 10:59 UTC had a depth of 138.7 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.5481°, 146.7476°, which is 112 km ESE of Madang, 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 5.1 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: usd0015e7p). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 16, 2026). M5.1 Earthquake 112 km ESE of Madang, Papua New Guinea — August 16, 2026. Retrieved August 16, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/usd0015e7p/