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Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — January 2026

24 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during January 2026, an average of 0.8 per day.

24 reached magnitude 4 or above and 9 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 114 km.

The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Madang, Papua New Guinea on 20 January 2026 at 07:21 UTC. A magnitude 5.9 earthquake radiates roughly 10,676 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the Papua New Guinea monthly average of 26 events over the period we cover, and down from the 26 recorded the previous month.

46% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 46% intermediate (70–300 km) and 8% 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 15 in the magnitude 4 range, 9 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 29 January, when 4 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.9 near Madang, Papua New Guinea on 20 January at 90 km; M5.6 near Mendi, Papua New Guinea on 26 January at 19 km; M5.4 near Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea on 05 January at 178 km.

That is close to the 26 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 21 months on record.

Events recorded24
StrongestM5.9
Average depth114 km
Magnitude 4+24
Magnitude 5+9

Largest earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, January 2026

24 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 Madang, Papua New Guinea 90.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.6 Mendi, Papua New Guinea 19.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.4 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 177.8 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Lae, Papua New Guinea 172.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 33.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 89.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Ambunti, Papua New Guinea 131.4 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Mendi, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 66.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 60.8 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Angoram, Papua New Guinea 130.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Angoram, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 130.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Mendi, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Mendi, Papua New Guinea 10.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 381.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 573.8 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 168.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 73.8 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 156.4 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Aitape, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.2 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 220.5 Papua New Guinea View details View

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in January 2026?

24 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during January 2026, of which 24 were magnitude 4 or above.

What was the biggest earthquake in Papua New Guinea in January 2026?

A magnitude 5.9 event near Madang, Papua New Guinea on 20 January 2026.

Other months in Papua New Guinea

Magnitudes for January 2026 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.