Shallow M5.5 earthquake hits East New Britain, Papua New Guinea

An earthquake with a magnitude of M5.5 was recorded at 06:19 UTC on June 25, 2026, approximately 73 km (45 miles) east of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea. The quake occurred at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 miles), according to USGS data.

The epicenter was pinpointed at 152.9°E and 4.3°S, placing it offshore to the east of Kokopo in the East New Britain Province, a region frequently affected by seismic activity along the western Pacific Ring of Fire. Kokopo serves as the capital of East New Britain Province and is a significant urban center in the area.

This part of Papua New Guinea is near several key pieces of infrastructure, including Kokopo’s airport, local highways, regional ports, and potential energy distribution facilities. The region’s coastal character means that such infrastructure may be exposed to seismic hazards.

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 reached V on the Modified Mercalli scale. Only one felt report was received. The significance index is 466 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

Papua New Guinea lies along the boundary between the Australian and Pacific Plates, making it one of the most seismically active areas in the world. The region experiences frequent moderate to strong earthquakes due to complex tectonic interactions.

This information was last updated at 15:43 UTC on June 25, 2026.