List of earthquakes in Papua New Guinea

Last updated

Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea are due to its location near the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire. Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are usually metal, timber and unreinforced brick masonry construction. [1]

DateRegion Mag. MMI DeathsInjuriesCommentsRef
2024-03-24 East Sepik 6.9 Mw VIII52Severe damage [2]
2023-04-03 East Sepik 7.0 Mw VII8"scores"Severe damage [3]
2022-09-11 Morobe 7.6 Mw VIII2142Extensive damage [4]
2020-07-17 Oro Province 7.0 Mw VII1Landslides and a dozen homes collapsed [5]
2019-05-14 New Ireland 7.6 MwVII1No major damage or deaths reported. [6] [7]
2019-05-06 Morobe 7.1 MwVIMinor damage in Lae [8]
2018-10-10 New Britain 7.0 Mw VI1Moderate damage [9]
2018-04-07 New Guinea 6.3 MwVII4Aftershock [10]
2018-03-06 New Guinea 6.7 MwVII25Aftershock [11]
2018-03-04 New Guinea 6.0 MwVII11Aftershock [12]
2018-02-26 New Guinea 7.5 MwIX160500+Heavy damage / Landslides [13] [14]
2017-01-22 Bougainville Island 7.9 MwIX517Moderate damage / Tsunami (local) [15]
2016-12-17New Ireland7.9 Mw VIIPower was knocked out in some areas / tsunami [16]
2015-03-29New Britain7.5 Mw VIISmall tsunami [17]
2005-06-04 Morobe Province 6.1 MwVI1SeveralMany buildings damaged or destroyed in Lae. [18]
2002-09-09 Sandaun Province 7.6 MwIX670 Tsunami (local) [19]
2002-04-01 Morobe Province 5.3 Mw IV36Deaths from a landslide [20]
2002-01-10 Sandaun Province 6.7 MwIX [21] 1200 homes destroyed at Aitape [22]
2000-11-16 New Ireland 7.8 MwVIIAdditional damage / doublet
2000-11-16 New Ireland 8.0 MwVIII2 Tsunami (local) / doublet
1998-07-17 Sandaun Province 7.0 MwVIII2,183–2,700ThousandsDestructive local tsunami (15 m (49 ft))
1993-10-13 Morobe Province 6.9 MwIX60200 Landslides [23]
1993-08-20 Hela 6.2 MwVII5Damage in Tari [24]
1989-03-11Southern New Ireland 5.8 MwV1 Landslide [25]
1987-02-09 Morobe Province 7.4 Ms VII3 Landslide [26]
1985-05-11 New Britain 7.2 MwVIII1 Landslides [27]
1984-03-27 Karkar Island 6.5 MwVIII11Many buildings destroyed [28]
1971-07-26 PNG / Solomon Islands 8.1 MwVI Tsunami (local) / doublet
1971-07-14 PNG / Solomon Islands 8.0 MwIX25 Tsunami (local) / doublet
1970-10-31 North coast6.9 MwVIII5–18203 m (10 ft) tsunami
1968-10-23North coast7.5Moderate damage NGDC 1972
1968-02-12 New Ireland 7.8VIIIMinimal damage NGDC 1972
1967-08-13 Bismarck Sea 6.4 MsSevere damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1964-11-17 New Britain 7.6 MsVIIIMinimal damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1953-04-23 PNG / Solomon Islands 7.4 MwMinimal damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1941-01-13 Bismarck Sea 7.4 Mw4Moderate damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1939-01-30 Bougainville Island 7.8 Ms5ManyModerate damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1938-05-127.5 MsMinimal damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1937-05-28 New Britain VIII507Volcanic eruption / tsunami at Tavurvur NGDC 1972
1933-12-12Minimal damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1922-01-19 Bismarck Sea 7.5 MsMinimal damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1920-02-02 New Britain 7.7 MsMinimal damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1919-05-06 PNG / Solomon Islands 7.8 MwMinimal damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1916-01-01 PNG / Solomon Islands 7.9 MwMinimal damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1906-10-02 Bismarck Sea 7.2 MwLimited damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1906-09-14 New Britain 8.0 MwMinimal damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1900-09-10 Bismarck Sea 6.8 MsSomeSevere damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1873Maclay Coast8.0 MsSomeModerate damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
1857-04-17 Bismarck Sea 8.0 MsMinimal damage / tsunami NGDC 1972
Note: The inclusion criteria for adding events are based on WikiProject Earthquakes' notability guideline that was developed for stand alone articles. The principles described also apply to lists. In summary, only damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Papua New Guinea earthquake</span> Earthquake affecting Papua New Guinea

The Papua New Guinea earthquake was a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that occurred in the Hela Province of Papua New Guinea on 26 February 2018, at 3:44 a.m. local time. The earthquake's epicenter was 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of the town of Komo. The maximum felt intensity was IX (Violent) on the Mercalli intensity scale. A total of 160 people were killed and many others were injured. An aftershock of M6.0 killed 11 people on 4 March, while another aftershock of M6.7 occurred at 00:13 local time on 7 March, killing at least 25 more. A 6.3 aftershock killed another 4 people on 7 April, more than a month after the first tremors hit the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Solomon Islands earthquakes</span> Seismic events

On 9 December 2016 at 4:38 a.m. local time, the Solomon Islands region was rocked by an Mww 7.8 earthquake, centred 30 km off San Cristobal Island, about 61 km southwest of Kirakira, the capital of Makira-Ulawa Province. Initially registering magnitude 8.0, later downgraded to 7.8, the temblor prompted tsunami warnings that kept countries surrounding the Coral, Tasman and Solomon Sea on high alert, but was later cancelled. A large aftershock of magnitude 6.9 occurred shortly afterwards. This earthquake was largely felt, waking many residents who later ran to high ground for fears of a potential tsunami. The earthquake killed a child and affected some 34,000 people in Makira, South Malaita and Guadalcanal Island where many had lost their homes or had no access to basic needs. Earthquakes are common in this region, with little or no fatalities. This earthquake is tied with three other magnitude 7.8 earthquakes for the second largest earthquake of 2016. On 17 December, Solomon Islands would be rattled again by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake, this time 54 km east of Taron, Papua New Guinea.

On 11 September 2022, an earthquake of moment magnitude 7.6–7.7 struck Papua New Guinea, in the northern part of Morobe Province. The normal faulting earthquake occurred with a hypocenter depth of 116.0 km (72.1 mi) beneath the Finisterre Range. A maximum perceived Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe) was estimated. Shaking was widely felt across the country and even in neighbouring Indonesia. At least 21 people died and 42 were injured, mostly due to landslides.

References

  1. ↑ "PAGER". United States Geological Survey. 10 September 2022. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  2. ↑ National Earthquake Information Center (23 March 2024). "M 6.9 – 38 km ENE of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  3. ↑ National Earthquake Information Center (2 April 2023). "M 7.0 – New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "M 7.6 – 67 km E of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 10 Sep 2022.
  5. ↑ "M 7.0 – 114 km NNW of Popondetta, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2 Dec 2020.
  6. ↑ "M 7.5 – 45 km NE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  7. ↑ Joey Millar (May 14, 2019). "Papua New Guinea earthquake: TSUNAMI THREAT for Pacific after 7.7 quake". express.co.uk. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  8. ↑ "M 7.2 – 33 km NW of Bulolo. Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  9. ↑ "M 7.0 – 119 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
  10. ↑ "M 6.3 – 88 km WSW of Porgera, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  11. ↑ "At least 25 killed in PNG aftershocks". Courier Mail. 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
  12. ↑ "Strong aftershocks rock PNG leaving 11 people dead". Australia: ABC News. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  13. ↑ "Pray for those suffering – Post Courier". postcourier.com.pg. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  14. ↑ "Death toll in Papua New Guinea quake rises to 75 | IOL News" . Retrieved 2018-03-06.
  15. ↑ "M 7.9 – 41 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  16. ↑ "M 7.9 – 54 km E of Taron, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2 Dec 2020.
  17. ↑ "M 7.5 – 53 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2 Dec 2020.
  18. ↑ "M 6.1 – 47 km NNW of Lae, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  19. ↑ "M7.6 – near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  20. ↑ "M 5.3 – 62 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  21. ↑ "PAGER" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  22. ↑ "M6.7 – near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  23. ↑ "M6.9 – eastern New Guinea region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  24. ↑ "M 6.2 – 28 km SW of Tari, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  25. ↑ "M5.8 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  26. ↑ "M7.4 – eastern New Guinea region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  27. ↑ "M7.2 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  28. ↑ "M6.5 – near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.