Earthquake.now

Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — December 2024

17 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during December 2024, an average of 0.5 per day.

17 reached magnitude 4 or above and 2 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 73 km.

The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on 31 December 2024 at 20:09 UTC. A magnitude 5.1 earthquake radiates roughly 674 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is below the Papua New Guinea monthly average of 25 events over the period we cover — a comparatively quiet month, and up from the 14 recorded the previous month.

59% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 41% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). A substantial share of intermediate-depth events points to a subducting slab beneath the region rather than purely crustal faulting.

By band, the catalogue holds 15 in the magnitude 4 range, 2 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 31 December, when 3 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.1 near Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on 31 December at 10 km; M5.0 near Rabaul, Papua New Guinea on 31 December at 8 km; M4.8 near Panguna, Papua New Guinea on 03 December at 40 km.

That is 32% below the 25 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 22 months on record.

Events recorded17
StrongestM5.1
Average depth73 km
Magnitude 4+17
Magnitude 5+2

Largest earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, December 2024

17 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.

Time (UTC) Mag Location Depth (km) Country Details
5.1 Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 8.4 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 39.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Samarai, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 64.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 152.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kavieng, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kanzarua, Papua New Guinea 66.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Madang, Papua New Guinea 53.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 75.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Kokoda, Papua New Guinea 127.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 242.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 145.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 56.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Wewak, Papua New Guinea 78.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Aiome, Papua New Guinea 84.2 Papua New Guinea View details View

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in December 2024?

17 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during December 2024, of which 17 were magnitude 4 or above.

What was the biggest earthquake in Papua New Guinea in December 2024?

A magnitude 5.1 event near Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on 31 December 2024.

Other months in Papua New Guinea

Magnitudes for December 2024 reflect the current USGS review status and may have been revised since first publication. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.