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Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — March 2025

16 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during March 2025, an average of 0.5 per day.

16 reached magnitude 4 or above and 4 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 108 km.

The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on 27 March 2025 at 19:42 UTC. A magnitude 5.2 earthquake radiates roughly 951 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is below the Papua New Guinea monthly average of 26 events over the period we cover — a comparatively quiet month, and down from the 30 recorded the previous month.

44% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 50% intermediate (70–300 km) and 6% deep-focus (over 300 km). That proportion of deep-focus events is the signature of a subduction zone: only a cold slab descending into the mantle stays brittle enough to rupture at those depths.

By band, the catalogue holds 12 in the magnitude 4 range, 4 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 21 March, when 3 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.2 near Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on 27 March at 14 km; M5.1 near Kainantu, Papua New Guinea on 17 March at 64 km; M5.1 near Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea on 15 March at 59 km.

That is 38% below the 26 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 21 months on record.

Events recorded16
StrongestM5.2
Average depth108 km
Magnitude 4+16
Magnitude 5+4

Largest earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, March 2025

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

Time (UTC) Mag Location Depth (km) Country Details
5.2 Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 13.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Kainantu, Papua New Guinea 64.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 59.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 87.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Ambunti, Papua New Guinea 116.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 125.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Goroka, Papua New Guinea 124.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 196.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 59.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 56.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Madang, Papua New Guinea 144.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 73.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 445.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.1 Angoram, Papua New Guinea 137.1 Papua New Guinea View details View

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in March 2025?

16 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during March 2025, of which 16 were magnitude 4 or above.

What was the biggest earthquake in Papua New Guinea in March 2025?

A magnitude 5.2 event near Kandrian, Papua New Guinea on 27 March 2025.

Other months in Papua New Guinea

Magnitudes for March 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.