Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea there are very strong earthquakes with far-reaching consequences. Earthquakes with a magnitude of over 8.0 destroy numerous houses within a radius of several hundred kilometers and are causing great damage and devastation. Measured by the size of the country, earthquakes occur above average, but not excessively often.

Since 1950 more than 3300 people died by direct consequences of earthquakes. 29 earthquakes also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lifes and damages.

Other natural hazards in Papua New Guinea:
› Volcanos
› Tsunamis
› The most severe natural disasters worldwide


Back to overview: Papua New Guinea

Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea since 1950

The strongest earthquake in Papua New Guinea happened on 11/16/2000 in the region New Ireland, Duke Of York with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale. The shifting of tectonic plates in a depth of 55 km resulted in 2 deaths. The earthquake also triggered a tsunami with further victims and destructions.
DateRegionTiefeMagnitudeDeathsTotal damage
05/14/2019Rabaul, Duke Of York Is25 km7.60
05/06/2019Morobe (Wampar)35 km7.20
04/07/2018Hela38 km6.34
03/06/2018S Highlands, Hela6 km6.725
03/04/2018S Highlands18 km6.011
02/28/2018S Highlands45 km6.11
02/25/2018S Highlands, Hela; Indonesia43 km7.5145
01/22/2017Bougainville Island36 km7.93
12/17/2016New Britain New Ireland5 km7.90
05/05/2015Papua New Guinea38 km7.50
03/29/2015Papua New Guinea1 km7.50
04/19/2014Solomon Sea21 km7.50
04/11/2014Bougainville Island13 km7.11
09/09/2005New Ireland43 km7.70
09/08/2002Kairiru Is, Muschu Is, Wewak25 km7.64
01/10/2002Aitape56 km6.71
11/17/2000New Britain56 km7.80
11/16/2000New Ireland, New Britain16 km7.80
11/16/2000New Ireland, Duke Of York55 km8.02
07/17/1998Sissano16 km7.00
08/16/1995Rabaul, Kokopo, New Britain28 km7.70
10/13/1993Eastern (Upper Markham Valley) 6.960
12/30/1990New Britain18 km7.50
03/10/1989New Britain (Rabaul)10 km5.41
09/06/1988Kaiapit (Landslide Generated)33 km4.374
07/05/1988New Britain (Kandrian, Arawe)7 km6.80
10/16/1987New Britain (Kandrian, Kimbte)1 km7.70
10/12/1987Solomon Sea4 km6.80
02/08/1987Huon Peninsula, Umboi Island58 km7.63
06/24/1986Papua New Guinea30 km7.10
07/03/1985New Britain (Rabaul)51 km7.20
05/10/1985New Britain (Bialla, Piona)50 km7.11
03/27/1984Karkar33 km6.60
12/22/1983Ulawun, Rabaul2 km6.410
03/18/1983New Ireland50 km7.60
06/25/1979E, Mt Hagen5 km6.20
08/28/1977Admiralty Islands5 km5.50
07/20/1975Solomon Islands (Buin, Boku)27 km7.70
07/20/1975Bismarck Sea (Bougainville)39 km7.90
08/17/1972W. Solomon Sea5 km7.10
09/25/1971Bismarck Sea14 km7.00
07/26/1971Bismarck Sea Rabaul21 km7.90
07/14/1971New Ireland (Bougainville)29 km7.92
10/31/1970Madang7 km7.315
08/02/1969Bismarck Sea29 km5.40
10/23/1968N Coast, Wewak, Dagua 7.50
02/12/1968New Ireland 7.80
08/13/1967Bismarck Sea10 km6.40
11/17/1964New Britain39 km7.60
06/11/1960W. Solomon Sea9 km6.60
10/10/1955Bismarck Sea47 km7.30
04/23/1953Solomon Islands34 km7.40
02/18/1951Papua New Guinea 0.03000


These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Several data have been summarized and translated.