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 MwVIII5+2+Severe damage [2]
2023-04-03 East Sepik 7.0 MwVII8"scores"Severe damage [3]
2022-09-11 Morobe 7.6 MwVIII2142Extensive damage [4]
2020-07-17 Oro Province 7.0 MwVII1Landslides 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 MwVI1Moderate 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 MwVIIPower was knocked out in some areas / tsunami [16]
2015-03-29New Britain7.5 MwVIISmall 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">Lists of earthquakes</span>

Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. They range from events too weak to be detectable except by sensitive instrumentation, to sudden and violent events lasting many minutes which have caused some of the greatest disasters in human history. Below, earthquakes are listed by period, region or country, year, magnitude, cost, fatalities and number of scientific studies.

<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.

References

  1. "PAGER". earthquake.usgs.gov. 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". USGS. Retrieved 10 Sep 2022.
  5. "M 7.0 - 114 km NNW of Popondetta, Papua New Guinea". USGS. Retrieved 2 Dec 2020.
  6. "M 7.5 - 45km NE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea". earthquake.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  7. Joey Millar (May 14, 2019). "Papua New Guinea earthquake: TSUNAMI THREAT for Pacific after 7.7 quake". www.express.co.uk. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  8. "M 7.2 - 33km NW of Bulolo. Papua New Guinea". earthquake.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  9. "M 7.0 - 119km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea". earthquake.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
  10. "M 6.3 - 88km WSW of Porgera, Papua New Guinea". earthquake.usgs.gov. 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". 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. USGS. "M 7.9 - 41km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  16. "M 7.9 - 54km E of Taron, Papua New Guinea". USGS. Retrieved 2 Dec 2020.
  17. "M 7.5 - 53km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea". USGS. Retrieved 2 Dec 2020.
  18. "M 6.1 - 47 km NNW of Lae, Papua New Guinea". earthquake.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  19. USGS. "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". earthquake.usgs.gov.
  21. USGS (2 April 2023). "PAGER" (PDF). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  22. USGS. "M6.7 - near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  23. USGS. "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". earthquake.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  25. USGS. "M5.8 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  26. USGS. "M7.4 - eastern New Guinea region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  27. USGS. "M7.2 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.
  28. USGS. "M6.5 - near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey.

Sources