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Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — August 2025

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

17 reached magnitude 4 or above and 6 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 88 km.

The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on 07 August 2025 at 16:33 UTC. A magnitude 5.9 earthquake radiates roughly 10,676 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 21 recorded the previous month.

47% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 47% 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 11 in the magnitude 4 range, 6 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 24 August, when 2 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.9 near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on 07 August at 19 km; M5.1 near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on 28 August at 10 km; M5.0 near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on 21 August at 141 km.

That is 34% below the 26 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 21 months on record.

Events recorded17
StrongestM5.9
Average depth88 km
Magnitude 4+17
Magnitude 5+6

Largest earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, August 2025

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

Time (UTC) Mag Location Depth (km) Country Details
5.9 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 19.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 92.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 140.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 124.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Kieta, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Lae, Papua New Guinea 74.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 65.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 112.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 104.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 66.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 464.8 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Ambunti, Papua New Guinea 100.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.0 Ambunti, Papua New Guinea 82.8 Papua New Guinea View details View

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in August 2025?

17 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during August 2025, of which 17 were magnitude 4 or above.

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

A magnitude 5.9 event near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on 07 August 2025.

Other months in Papua New Guinea

Magnitudes for August 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.