Moderate magnitude 4.5 earthquake at 460 km depth8 Mar 04:21 UTC: First to report: GFZ after 18 minutes.8 Mar 04:21: Now using data updates from EMSC8 Mar 04:22: Now using data updates from USGSI didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeMar 8, 2026 04:03:23 UTC - Local time at epicenterSunday, Mar 8, 2026, at 02:03 pm (Pacific/Port Moresby GMT +10)Statusconfirmed (manually revised)Magnitude4.5Depth460 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude3.5604°S / 152.3884°EPapua New GuineaSeismic antipode3.5604°N / 27.612°WQuality42 seismic stationsShaking intensityNot feltPrimary data sourceUSGS (United States Geological Survey)Nearest volcanoLihir (56 km / 35 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeOvercast Clouds 29.4°C (85 F), humidity: 69%, wind: 3 m/s (6 kts) from ENEEstimated seismic energy released3.5 x 1011 joules (98.6 megawatt hours, equivalent to 84.8 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.5 | about seismic energy31 minutes agoMar 8, 2026 04:03 GMT / Mar 8, 2026 02:03 pm (Port Moresby time)Lat / Lng: -3.5604 / 152.3884: 75 km NNE of Rabaul, Papua New GuineaSource: USGSOther sources: GFZ: 4.5 / 455 km, RaspberryShake: 4.5 / 455 km, 1 more...Detail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-22784859',-3.56040,152.38840,'31 minutes ago: Mag. 4.5, 75 km NNE of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea',html,'quakes-6-24.png',25,25,12,12,125]); function mkRep(id,notFelt){var nFelt=notFelt||false;var src="https://www.volcanoesandearthquakes.com/app/earthquake-report.php?quakeId="+id;if(nFelt==true){src+="¬Felt=true";}window.open(src,"","status=0,toolbar=0,location=0,directories=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,height=400,width=350");} function locationHashChanged(e){-1!=e.oldURL.indexOf("#popupMap")&&closePopup()} window.onhashchange = locationHashChanged; function comment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=(t.dataset.id,document.getElementById("commentForm"));"none"==a.style.display?(t.appendChild(a),a.style.display="block"):a.style.display="none"}function sendComment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=t.parentNode.dataset.id,n=document.getElementById("commentContent"),p=n.value.trim();if(p){var o="id="+a+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId;o+="&comment="+decodeURIComponent(p),mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",o,function(e){e.responseText;alert("Thank you for submitting your comment!"),t.style.display="none",n.value=""})}}function flagReport(e){var t=e.parentNode.dataset.id;if(confirm("Report this as inappropriate?")){var a="id="+t+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&flagAsInappropriate=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",a,function(t){var a=t.responseText;alert(a),e.style.display="none"})}}function likeReport(e){var t="id="+e.parentNode.dataset.id+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&like=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",t,function(t){t.responseText;e.style.opacity=.5})}]]>[smaller] [bigger]Most recent quakes Top 20 past 24 hrs Quakes in Papua New GuineaNearby placesThe closest larger town near the epicenter is Rabaul, a town with 8,100 inhabitants in Papua New Guinea, in 75 km (47 mi) distance to the south, but it is unlikely that the quake was felt there. DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry75 km (47 mi)S of epicenterRabaul(pop: 8,070)I: Not feltEast New Britain ProvincePapua New Guinea88 km (55 mi)S of epicenterKokopo(pop: 26,300)I: Not feltEast New Britain ProvincePapua New Guinea208 km (129 mi)NW of epicenterKavieng(pop: 14,500)I: Not feltNew Ireland ProvincePapua New Guinea334 km (207 mi)SW of epicenterKimbe(pop: 18,800)I: Not feltWest New Britain ProvincePapua New Guinea431 km (268 mi)SW of epicenterKandrian(pop: 1,010)I: Not feltWest New Britain ProvincePapua New Guinea876 km (544 mi)SW of epicenterPort Moresby(pop: 283,700): Not feltNational Capital DistrictPapua New GuineaNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quakeThere are no user reports for this quake yet.If you felt it, be the first to report it!Get the Android appCompare Quake DataData for the same earthquake as reported by different agenciesThe more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.MagDepthTime GMT2026-03-8EpicenterAgency4.5460 km286 mi±9 km04:03:23.45475 km NNE of Rabaul, Papua New GuineaEpicenter uncertainty: ± 13 kmUSGS (United States Geological Survey)4.52± 0.18455 km283 mi±3.1 km04:03:22.84±0.33sNew Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea12 km (7.5 mi) epicenter difference with USGSEpicenter uncertainty: ± 13 kmGFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences)4.5455 km283 mi04:03:22New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea12 km (7.7 mi) epicenter difference with USGSRaspberryShake (RaspberryShake)4.5460 km286 mi04:03:23.454±1.23sNEW IRELAND REGION, P.N.G.0 km (0 mi) epicenter difference with USGSEpicenter uncertainty: ± 22 kmEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)4.5460 km286 mi04:03:23NEW IRELAND REGION, P.N.G.0 km (0 mi) epicenter difference with USGSIRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology)Aftershocks for this quakeNo aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section.What are aftershocks?Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known as aftershocks that occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock.[More info]What about this quake?Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likely ruptured beneath a surface area of approximately 3 km2 (1 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 3 km (2 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)Mar 8, 2026 02:03 pm (Port Moresby)31 minutes ago4.5460 km0 km - This quakeSouth Pacific Ocean, 54 km SW of Lihir Island, Papua New GuineaMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksEarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 26 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 21.5 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 7 or higher: 0.03 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 31.3 years)Mag. 6 or higher: 0.37 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 2.7 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 3.4 quakes per yearMag. 4 or higher: 21.7 quakes per yearMag. 3 or higher: 44 quakes per year (or 3.6 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 44 quakes per year (or 3.7 quakes per month)The area where this quake occurred has a very high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 4 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 30 to 35 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 22 weeks after a magnitude 4.7 earthquake had hit on Saturday, Oct 4, 2025, at 06:38 am local time (Pacific/Port Moresby GMT +10) in 85 km (53 mi) distance to the southeast:Mag. 4.7 earthquake Solomon Sea - 26 km southeast of Duke of York Island, Papua New Guinea - Oct 4, 2025 - The largest quake near the epicenter of this quake during the 10 years before was an event of magnitude 7.8. It had occurred 9 years earlier, on Saturday, Dec 17, 2016, at 08:51 pm local time (Pacific/Port Moresby GMT +10) in South Pacific Ocean, Papua New Guinea:Mag. 7.8 earthquake South Pacific Ocean - 50 km south of Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea - Dec 17, 2016 - The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 8.1. It had occurred 55 years ago earlier, on Monday, Jul 26, 1971, at 11:23 am (GMT +10 local time) in South Pacific Ocean, Papua New Guinea:Mag. 8.1 earthquake New Ireland region - Papua New Guinea - Jul 26, 1971 - Below is a list and map of larger or recent quakes that had occurred near the epicenter before this earthquake (within up to 100 km/61 mi distance, up to 300 km/183 mi for very large quakes above mag. 7). Filter and sort the list by magnitude or time.Max results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageDate and TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapJan 15, 05:55 pm (Universal Time)4.1151 km78 km (49 mi) to the SE 94 km northeast of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoOct 4, 2025 06:38 am (Port Moresby)4.767 km85 km (53 mi) to the SESolomon Sea, 26 km southeast of Duke of York Island, Papua New GuineaInfoAug 28, 2025 07:12 pm (Port Moresby)4.430 km91 km (57 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 55 km south of Malendok Island, Papua New GuineaInfoAug 8, 2025 07:41 pm (Port Moresby)4.610 km85 km (53 mi) to the SENew Ireland Province, 75 km east of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 1 reportInfoAug 8, 2025 02:33 am (Port Moresby)5.919 km97 km (60 mi) to the SENew Ireland Province, 71 km east of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 8 reportsInfoFeb 20, 2025 03:15 am (Port Moresby)4.770 km87 km (54 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, New Ireland Province, 51 km east of Duke of York Island, Papua New GuineaInfoJan 21, 2025 09:15 pm (GMT +10)5.510 km96 km (59 mi) to the WBismarck Sea, 102 km northwest of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoMay 14, 2019 10:58 pm (Port Moresby)7.425 km68 km (42 mi) to the SBismarck Sea, 5 km east of Duke of York Island, Papua New Guinea 40 reportsInfoFeb 18, 2019 12:35 am (Port Moresby)6.3392 km31 km (19 mi) to the NWSouth Pacific Ocean, 58 km southeast of New Ireland Island, Papua New GuineaInfoMay 15, 2017 11:22 pm (Port Moresby)6.120 km54 km (34 mi) to the SBismarck Sea, 8.8 km north of Mait Unanga Island, Papua New Guinea 2 reportsInfoDec 17, 2016 08:51 pm (Port Moresby)7.881 km159 km (99 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 50 km south of Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea 4 reportsInfoAug 31, 2016 01:11 pm (Port Moresby)6.7505 km43 km (27 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, 54 km west of Tefa Island, Papua New Guinea 1 reportInfoJun 22, 2016 03:12 am (Port Moresby)6.2356 km50 km (31 mi) to the WBismarck Sea, 47 km southeast of New Ireland Island, Papua New GuineaInfoMay 5, 2015 11:44 am (Port Moresby)7.437 km224 km (139 mi) to the S 137 km south of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea 1 reportInfoMar 30, 2015 09:48 am (Port Moresby)7.434 km129 km (80 mi) to the SSolomon Sea, 31 km west of Lamassa Island, Papua New Guinea 2 reportsInfoJul 8, 2013 04:35 am (GMT +10)7.3386 km175 km (109 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, 39 km northeast of Ambitle Island, Papua New GuineaInfoApr 24, 2013 09:14 am (Port Moresby)6.510 km47 km (29 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 34 km north of Rabaul, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea 1 reportInfoMar 21, 2010 12:00 am (Port Moresby)6.6415 km27 km (17 mi) to the NWSouth Pacific Ocean, 48 km southwest of Lihir Island, Papua New GuineaInfoSep 9, 2005 05:26 pm (GMT +10)7.690 km162 km (101 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 53 km south of Ambitle Island, Papua New GuineaInfoJan 14, 2005 06:33 pm (Port Moresby)6.110 km84 km (52 mi) to the SENew Ireland Province, 51 km east of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoJul 16, 2003 04:46 am (Port Moresby)6.533 km38 km (24 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 58 km north of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoDec 28, 2000 02:34 pm (Port Moresby)6.233 km55 km (34 mi) to the SBismarck Sea, 22 km northwest of Duke of York Island, Papua New GuineaInfoDec 7, 2000 08:57 am (Port Moresby)6.531 km82 km (51 mi) to the SENew Ireland Province, 52 km east of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoNov 18, 2000 07:01 am (Port Moresby)7.833 km226 km (140 mi) to the S 139 km south of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoNov 16, 2000 05:42 pm (GMT +10)7.830 km202 km (126 mi) to the SESolomon Sea, 135 km southeast of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoNov 16, 2000 02:54 pm (Port Moresby)8.033 km53 km (33 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 42 km north of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoOct 29, 2000 06:37 pm (GMT +10)7.050 km219 km (136 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 84 km southeast of Ambitle Island, Papua New GuineaInfoMay 16, 1999 10:51 am (Port Moresby)7.174 km133 km (83 mi) to the SSolomon Sea, 51 km southeast of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoMay 11, 1999 06:33 am (Port Moresby)7.1138 km244 km (152 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 42 km southwest of Lolobau Island, Papua New GuineaInfoApr 2, 1999 07:36 am (Port Moresby)6.233 km95 km (59 mi) to the SNew Ireland Province, 49 km east of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoOct 15, 1994 10:39 am (Port Moresby)6.18.8 km38 km (24 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 61 km north of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoDec 31, 1990 05:14 am (Port Moresby)7.5179 km233 km (144 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 30 km southwest of Lolobau Island, Papua New GuineaInfoOct 18, 1989 02:27 am (Port Moresby)6.326 km53 km (33 mi) to the SBismarck Sea, 16 km northwest of Duke of York Island, Papua New GuineaInfoJul 17, 1985 06:09 pm (Port Moresby)6.041 km94 km (58 mi) to the SENew Ireland Province, 68 km east of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoJul 3, 1985 02:36 pm (Port Moresby)7.333 km109 km (68 mi) to the SENew Ireland Province, 63 km east of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoMay 11, 1985 01:35 am (Port Moresby)7.227 km271 km (169 mi) to the SW 101 km east of Kimbe, West New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoDec 3, 1984 07:09 am (GMT +10)6.218 km48 km (30 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 64 km northwest of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoMar 18, 1983 07:05 pm (Port Moresby)7.689 km198 km (123 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 89 km south of Ambitle Island, Papua New GuineaInfoJul 18, 1976 07:06 am (Port Moresby)6.653 km78 km (48 mi) to the SENew Ireland Province, 58 km east of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoApr 6, 1976 11:49 pm (GMT +10)6.421 km48 km (30 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 56 km north of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoApr 9, 1975 04:26 pm (Port Moresby)6.3133 km63 km (39 mi) to the SENew Ireland Province, 57 km northeast of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoAug 18, 1972 09:44 am (GMT +10)7.520 km283 km (176 mi) to the SSolomon Sea, 204 km south of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoMay 6, 1972 09:16 am (Port Moresby)6.530 km81 km (51 mi) to the SSolomon Sea, 20 km southeast of Duke of York Island, Papua New GuineaInfoApr 29, 1972 09:32 am (GMT +10)7.2410 km267 km (166 mi) to the SESolomon Sea, 66 km northwest of Taiof Island, Bougainville, Papua New GuineaInfoJul 26, 1971 11:23 am (GMT +10)8.140 km165 km (102 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 96 km southwest of Ambitle Island, Papua New GuineaInfoJul 14, 1971 04:11 pm (GMT +10)8.040 km272 km (169 mi) to the SESolomon Sea, 89 km west of Taiof Island, Bougainville, Papua New GuineaInfoJul 19, 1970 07:22 pm (Port Moresby)6.220 km61 km (38 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 34 km north of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoOct 20, 1949 07:00 am (GMT +10)7.50 km280 km (174 mi) to the SESolomon Sea, 73 km west of Taiof Island, Bougainville, Papua New GuineaInfoSep 29, 1946 03:02 am (Universal Time)7.650 km211 km (131 mi) to the SESolomon Sea, 129 km south of Ambitle Island, Papua New GuineaInfoJan 13, 1941 04:27 pm (Universal Time)7.115 km92 km (57 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 38 km west of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoJan 7, 1938 03:26 pm (Universal Time)6.415 km19 km (12 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 52 km north of Duke of York Island, Papua New GuineaInfoMay 28, 1937 10:00 am (Port Moresby)7.00 km82 km (51 mi) to the SBismarck Sea, 10.8 km northwest of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoSep 15, 1935 11:15 am (Universal Time)6.415 km74 km (46 mi) to the SBismarck Sea, 14 km southwest of Duke of York Island, Papua New GuineaInfoFeb 7, 1926 02:44 am (Universal Time)6.5390 km65 km (41 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 48 km northwest of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoFeb 2, 1920 11:22 am (Universal Time)7.835 km162 km (101 mi) to the S 75 km south of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New GuineaInfoMay 6, 1919 07:41 pm (Universal Time)8.135 km214 km (133 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 85 km south of Ambitle Island, Papua New GuineaInfoSep 30, 1918 06:37 pm (Universal Time)6.715 km24 km (15 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, 52 km south of Lihir Island, Papua New GuineaInfoJan 1, 1916 01:20 pm (Universal Time)7.935 km136 km (84 mi) to the SSolomon Sea, 61 km southeast of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoSep 11, 1900 07:30 am (Port Moresby)6.80 km65 km (41 mi) to the SWBismarck Sea, 48 km northwest of Kokopo, Papua New GuineaInfoMap of earlier quakes in the area of this quakeMax results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageOldest quakes are shown in yellow, most recent in red.[quakes -][quakes +][smaller][bigger]