Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — October 2026
2 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during October 2026, an average of 0.1 per day.
2 reached magnitude 4 or above and 1 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 37 km.
The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Panguna, Papua New Guinea on 02 October 2026 at 11:14 UTC. A magnitude 5.0 earthquake radiates roughly 477 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
That is below the Papua New Guinea monthly average of 25 events over the period we cover — a comparatively quiet month, and down from the 16 recorded the previous month.
100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.
By band, the catalogue holds 1 in the magnitude 4 range, 1 in the magnitude 5 range.
Activity peaked on 02 October, when 2 events were recorded.
The month's largest events were M5.0 near Panguna, Papua New Guinea on 02 October at 38 km; M4.9 near Panguna, Papua New Guinea on 02 October at 35 km.
That is 92% below the 25 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 23 months on record.
Largest earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, October 2026
2 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 38.2 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.9 | Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 35.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in October 2026?
2 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during October 2026, of which 2 were magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in Papua New Guinea in October 2026?
A magnitude 5.0 event near Panguna, Papua New Guinea on 02 October 2026.
Other months in Papua New Guinea
Magnitudes for October 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.