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M4.9 Depth: 44.0 km

M4.9 Earthquake near Tawae-Siassi District, Morobe (Papua New Guinea)

UTC time: 2026-02-16 07:36:34 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On February 16, 2026 at 07:36 UTC, a magnitude M4.9 earthquake occurred near Tawae-Siassi District, Morobe (Papua New Guinea). With a focal depth of about 44 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 event was recorded by GFZ. Papua New Guinea: 2 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M5.0.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 44 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 44 km
Shallow
44 km
44 km — shallower than the regional average (83.7 km)
Regional average: 83.7 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

  • Long Island
    Distance: 77 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 1'263 m ·Last eruption: 1993 ·Papua New Guinea
  • Umboi
    Distance: 107 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 1'335 m ·Papua New Guinea
  • Hankow Reef
    Distance: 129 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -5 m ·Papua New Guinea
  • Ritter Island
    Distance: 132 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 75 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·Papua New Guinea
  • Sakar
    Distance: 135 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 947 m ·Papua New Guinea
  • Langila
    Distance: 164 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 1'330 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·Papua New Guinea

Historic earthquake map · Papua New Guinea

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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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