Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — December 2024
11 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during December 2024, an average of 0.4 per day.
11 reached magnitude 4 or above and 0 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 95 km.
The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Samarai, Papua New Guinea on 12 December 2024 at 02:16 UTC. A magnitude 4.7 earthquake radiates roughly 169 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
That is well above the Papua New Guinea monthly average of 6 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and down from the 14 recorded the previous month.
36% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 64% 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 11 in the magnitude 4 range.
Activity peaked on 16 December, when 2 events were recorded.
The month's largest events were M4.7 near Samarai, Papua New Guinea on 12 December at 10 km; M4.6 near Kimbe, Papua New Guinea on 30 December at 153 km; M4.6 near Madang, Papua New Guinea on 14 December at 53 km.
That is 83% above the 6 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 2 months on record.
Every earthquake in Papua New Guinea, December 2024
11 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 152.9 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.4 | Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 145.5 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.5 | Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 75.1 | 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 | |
| 4.4 | Wewak, Papua New Guinea | 78.7 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.7 | Samarai, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.5 | Kokoda, Papua New Guinea | 127.9 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.4 | Aiome, Papua New Guinea | 84.2 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.5 | Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 242.2 | Papua New Guinea | View details View |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in December 2024?
11 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during December 2024, of which 11 were magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in Papua New Guinea in December 2024?
A magnitude 4.7 event near Samarai, Papua New Guinea on 12 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.