Shallow M5.7 earthquake hits Western Province, Papua New Guinea

A shallow M5.7 earthquake was recorded at 03:26 UTC on October 29, 2026, about 82 km (51 miles) northeast of Kiunga, Papua New Guinea. The event originated at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles), based on data provided by the USGS.

The coordinates for the epicenter are 141.9°E, 5.7°S, placing it in Western Province, Papua New Guinea, northeast of the regional center Kiunga. The area is characterized by remote terrain with dispersed rural populations and limited urban infrastructure.

Given the region, nearby critical infrastructure may include local airstrips, minor road networks, and river transport facilities which are typical for rural Western Province. Major international infrastructure is not in close proximity.

This earthquake was located inland, so there is no tsunami threat associated with this event, 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 was VII, and the significance index is 500 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude and estimated impact.

Western Province sits in an active seismic zone near the northern margin of the Australian Plate, with regional tectonics dominated by arc-continent collision and intra-plate faulting, making the area susceptible to moderate and strong earthquakes.

This information was last updated at 03:49 UTC on October 29, 2026.