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M4.6 Depth: 57.5 km

M4.6 Earthquake near NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G. (Papua New Guinea)

UTC time: 2025-05-21 17:12:35 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M4.6 earthquake was recorded near NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G. (Papua New Guinea) on May 21, 2025 at 17:12 UTC. With a focal depth of about 58 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Earthquakes of this magnitude are clearly felt; minor damage to vulnerable buildings is possible.

The data is provided by EMSC and cross-checked across seismological networks. Papua New Guinea: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 4 earthquakes, the strongest at M5.0.

Details

Magnitude
M4.6
Depth
57.5 km
UTC time
2025-05-21 17:12:35 UTC
Local time
—
Country
Papua New Guinea
City
East New Britain
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-5.44900, 152.30280
Temperature
27.7°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 57.5 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 57.5 km
Shallow
57.5 km
57.5 km — shallower than the regional average (85 km)
Regional average: 85 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Volcanoes nearby

  • Ulawun
    Distance: 116 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'334 m ·Last eruption: 2025 ·Papua New Guinea
  • Bamus
    Distance: 122 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'248 m ·Last eruption: 1886 ·Papua New Guinea
  • Hargy
    Distance: 134 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'148 m ·Last eruption: 950 ·Papua New Guinea
  • Rabaul
    Distance: 134 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 688 m ·Last eruption: 2014 ·Papua New Guinea
  • Lolobau
    Distance: 140 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 878 m ·Last eruption: 1912 ·Papua New Guinea
  • Tavui
    Distance: 149 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 200 m ·Last eruption: -4946 ·Papua New Guinea

Historic earthquake map · Papua New Guinea

Open history map
Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · Papua New Guinea

Country overview
View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

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