M 5.6 - 74 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea

Source: USGS · Papua New Guinea

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake was recorded by USGS near 74 km ESE of Kokopo. On the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program scale, M5.6 is classified "Moderate". Among the 1,834 earthquake reports Areazine has published, this M5.6 event ranks stronger than 91% of them (rank #127 by magnitude).

Read this earthquake report in 30 seconds

Magnitude
M 5.6
USGS class
Moderate
Location
74 km ESE of Kokopo
Archive rank
#127 of 1,834
Source
USGS
Published
September 26, 2026
MODERATE

Out of 1,834 earthquake reports Areazine has logged, this one outranks 91% of them — 126 recorded a higher magnitude.

Record status: a snapshot from USGS, not a final record. Check USGS's own event page for aftershocks and any later revision to the magnitude shown here.

What Happened

A M 5.6 mww earthquake occurred 74 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, on September 25, 2026 at 12:48:17 UTC. The event was recorded at a depth of 57.78 km.

Location Details

The epicenter was located at latitude -4.6952, longitude 152.8383. This depth of 57.78 km classifies as intermediate (20-70 km).

Impact Assessment

The earthquake was felt by 1 person with a maximum reported intensity (CDI) of 2 and instrumental intensity (MMI) of 4.268. The alert level was green and no tsunami advisory was issued.

What You Should Know

This was a moderate earthquake that can cause damage to poorly constructed buildings. Residents should be prepared for possible aftershocks and follow standard earthquake safety procedures.

Source

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000txtc (USGS)

Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗

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Comparable nationwide notices (length or severity timing) 8

Two Areazine-derived peer sets for this USGS earthquake report: nearest notices by body length and by same severity near the same agency date. Peers come from other categories so they are not the same-feed Related list above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions readers often have about this USGS earthquake report.

What was the magnitude of this event? ▾
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck 74 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 57.78 km.
What does a magnitude 5.6 ("Moderate") earthquake mean? ▾
The USGS classifies M5.6 as "Moderate" on its Earthquake Hazards Program scale. Events in this range are felt over a wide area and can cause significant damage near the epicenter, particularly to older or unreinforced buildings.
Is this earthquake stronger or weaker than others in the archive? ▾
This is the #127 strongest of the 1,834 earthquake reports in Areazine's archive by magnitude, stronger than 91% of them and weaker than 126 others.
Was Kokopo likely to feel this earthquake? ▾
This event was centered 74 km ESE of Kokopo. Shaking intensity falls off sharply with distance from the epicenter and depends on depth and local geology, so check the USGS "Did You Feel It?" report for this event for real felt-shaking data rather than assuming from magnitude and distance alone.