Shallow M5.6 earthquake hits near Lorengau, Papua New Guinea

A shallow M5.6 earthquake occurred at 12:22 UTC on May 8, 2026, about 109 km (68 miles) south-southeast of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea. The earthquake struck at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The coordinates for this event place the epicenter near 147.7°E, 2.9°S, situating it off the northern coast of mainland Papua New Guinea, southeast of Manus Island. Lorengau, the nearest population center, lies to the northwest, with the region known for scattered island communities and sparse population density.

Given the event’s offshore location, major transport infrastructure could include coastal ports, fishing operations, and inter-island waterways connecting Manus Island to surrounding islands. No large highways or international airports are expected in the immediate vicinity.

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

The significance index is 482 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

Papua New Guinea lies along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Australian and Pacific plates converge, resulting in frequent and sometimes powerful earthquakes throughout the region.

This information was last updated at 12:42 UTC on May 8, 2026.