Shallow M6.0 earthquake hits near Lorengau, Papua New Guinea

A shallow M6.0 earthquake hit near Lorengau, Papua New Guinea, at 02:08 UTC on October 10, 2025. The quake was recorded 144 km (89 miles) south-southeast of Lorengau, at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles).

The coordinates place the earthquake at 148.0°E, 3.1°S, in the Bismarck Sea region off the northern coast of mainland Papua New Guinea, southeast of Manus Island. This area is sparsely populated with coastal and island communities nearby, with Lorengau serving as the main urban center on Manus Island.

Critical infrastructure in the region typically includes small ports, local airports, and island transportation routes, alongside fisheries and basic energy facilities serving coastal settlements.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

USGS issued a green alert for this event, indicating a low likelihood of casualties or damage. The maximum estimated intensity for this event was IV, with one felt report submitted. The significance index is 554 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

Papua New Guinea sits atop the complex tectonic boundary between the Pacific and Australian Plates, making it one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Earthquakes of this magnitude are not unusual for the area.

This information was last updated at 02:31 UTC on October 10, 2025.