Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — January 2025
7 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during January 2025, an average of 0.2 per day.
7 reached magnitude 4 or above and 2 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 58 km.
The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Lae, Papua New Guinea on 13 January 2025 at 07:08 UTC. A magnitude 5.0 earthquake radiates roughly 477 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
That is close to the Papua New Guinea monthly average of 6 events over the period we cover, and down from the 11 recorded the previous month.
57% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 43% 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 5 in the magnitude 4 range, 2 in the magnitude 5 range.
Activity peaked on 08 January, when 2 events were recorded.
The month's largest events were M5.0 near Lae, Papua New Guinea on 13 January at 82 km; M5.0 near Vanimo Government Station, Papua New Guinea on 15 January at 27 km; M4.5 near Kimbe, Papua New Guinea on 08 January at 10 km.
That is 17% above the 6 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 2 months on record.
This month also holds the strongest earthquake recorded in Papua New Guinea in our entire catalogue.
Every earthquake in Papua New Guinea, January 2025
7 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | Vanimo Government Station, Papua New Guinea | 27.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 5.0 | Lae, Papua New Guinea | 82.2 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.4 | Lae, Papua New Guinea | 45.8 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.3 | Lae, Papua New Guinea | 35.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.5 | Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.3 | Wewak, Papua New Guinea | 110.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.2 | Madang, Papua New Guinea | 95.8 | Papua New Guinea | View details View |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in January 2025?
7 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during January 2025, of which 7 were magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in Papua New Guinea in January 2025?
A magnitude 5.0 event near Lae, Papua New Guinea on 13 January 2025.
Other months in Papua New Guinea
Magnitudes for January 2025 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.