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Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — May 2025

34 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during May 2025, an average of 1.1 per day.

34 reached magnitude 4 or above and 10 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 64 km.

The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 6.6 earthquake near Angoram, Papua New Guinea on 20 May 2025 at 15:05 UTC. A magnitude 6.6 earthquake radiates roughly 119,787 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the Papua New Guinea monthly average of 26 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and down from the 106 recorded the previous month.

71% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 29% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). The mix is dominated by shallow crustal events, with a minority of intermediate-depth activity.

By band, the catalogue holds 24 in the magnitude 4 range, 8 in the magnitude 5 range, 2 in the magnitude 6 range.

Activity peaked on 03 May, when 4 events were recorded.

2 event(s) this month carry a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information; the flag does not indicate whether a tsunami occurred.

The month's largest events were M6.6 near Angoram, Papua New Guinea on 20 May at 53 km; M6.4 near Angoram, Papua New Guinea on 20 May at 10 km; M5.8 near Panguna, Papua New Guinea on 02 May at 65 km.

That is 31% above the 26 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 21 months on record.

Events recorded34
StrongestM6.6
Average depth64 km
Magnitude 4+34
Magnitude 5+10

Largest earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, May 2025

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

Time (UTC) Mag Location Depth (km) Country Details
6.6 Angoram, Papua New Guinea 53.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
6.4 Angoram, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.8 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 65.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.4 Vanimo, Papua New Guinea 35.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.3 Angoram, Papua New Guinea 135.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Angoram, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Vanimo, Papua New Guinea 29.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Wewak, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 51.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 186.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Kavieng, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 90.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Kimbe, 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
4.7 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Tari, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Ambunti, Papua New Guinea 88.8 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 57.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 76.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 67.4 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Samarai, Papua New Guinea 37.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 35.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 182.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 62.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 277.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 130.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 178.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.2 Lae, Papua New Guinea 193.6 Papua New Guinea View details View

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in May 2025?

34 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during May 2025, of which 34 were magnitude 4 or above.

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

A magnitude 6.6 event near Angoram, Papua New Guinea on 20 May 2025.

Other months in Papua New Guinea

Magnitudes for May 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.