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Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — May 2026

29 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during May 2026, an average of 0.9 per day.

29 reached magnitude 4 or above and 11 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 81 km.

The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 5.7 earthquake near Lorengau, Papua New Guinea on 22 May 2026 at 10:08 UTC. A magnitude 5.7 earthquake radiates roughly 5,351 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 up from the 22 recorded the previous month.

66% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 31% intermediate (70–300 km) and 3% 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 18 in the magnitude 4 range, 11 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 08 May, when 4 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.7 near Lorengau, Papua New Guinea on 22 May at 10 km; M5.6 near Lorengau, Papua New Guinea on 08 May at 10 km; M5.4 near Lorengau, Papua New Guinea on 15 May at 10 km.

That is 13% above the 26 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 21 months on record.

Events recorded29
StrongestM5.7
Average depth81 km
Magnitude 4+29
Magnitude 5+11

Largest earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, May 2026

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

Time (UTC) Mag Location Depth (km) Country Details
5.7 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.6 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.4 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.2 Madang, Papua New Guinea 91.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.2 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 103.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 142.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Lae, Papua New Guinea 68.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 66.8 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 59.8 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 75.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Lae, Papua New Guinea 66.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 60.4 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 69.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 62.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 105.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 160.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Madang, Papua New Guinea 194.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 572.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Lae, Papua New Guinea 207.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 121.2 Papua New Guinea View details View

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in May 2026?

29 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during May 2026, of which 29 were magnitude 4 or above.

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

A magnitude 5.7 event near Lorengau, Papua New Guinea on 22 May 2026.

Other months in Papua New Guinea

Magnitudes for May 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.