Live seismic activity in Papua New Guinea — updated every 60 seconds from USGS data. Papua New Guinea is one of the most seismically active regions on Earth, sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire with frequent large earthquakes.
See real‑time seismic activity in Papua New Guinea. This page shows all earthquakes from the last 24 hours, updated every 60 seconds from USGS.
Papua New Guinea is one of the most seismically active regions on Earth, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire where the Australian Plate and Pacific Plate collide. It experiences frequent M6+ earthquakes, some causing tsunamis. The 1998 Papua New Guinea earthquake (M7.0) generated a devastating tsunami that killed over 2,000 people. Major faults include the Ramu-Markham Fault, the New Britain Trench, and the Sepik Fault. Notable quakes include 2025 Madang (M6.5), 2025 East New Britain (M6.9), 2018 Highlands (M7.5), 2002 Wewak (M6.8). The seismic risk is extreme. Tectonically, Papua New Guinea lies on the Australian Plate, with the Pacific Plate subducting beneath it, plus complex microplate interactions. This page provides real‑time USGS data and historical context for Papua New Guinea.
See earthquakes today in Papua New Guinea with real‑time USGS data. Filter by magnitude, depth, and find earthquakes near me in Papua New Guinea. Updated every 60 seconds.
The region is defined by Ramu-Markham Fault, New Britain Trench, Sepik Fault, Pacific subduction zone, and the risk level is classified as Extreme. With a population of 9.5 million, understanding local seismic hazards is crucial.
Papua New Guinea lies on Pacific Plate subducting beneath Australian Plate. The movement of these plates builds up stress, which is released as earthquakes. In subduction zones, one plate dives beneath another, generating some of the largest quakes on Earth. In some regions, strike‑slip faults produce frequent moderate earthquakes.
Use the live map above – it shows all earthquakes from the last 24 hours, updated every 60 seconds from USGS. Click any dot for details.
The strongest recorded earthquake in Papua New Guinea was the 2025 Madang earthquake (M6.5). 2025 Madang (M6.5)
Papua New Guinea experiences approximately 1,500-5,000 earthquakes per year, with 100-500 felt (M3.0+) and 10-20 potentially damaging events (M5.0+) annually, according to USGS historical data.
The most recent major earthquake in Papua New Guinea was the 2025 Madang earthquake (M6.5). 2025 Madang (M6.5)
Yes. Papua New Guinea is crossed by Ramu-Markham Fault, New Britain Trench, Sepik Fault, Pacific subduction zone, making it prone to seismic activity. The seismic risk level is classified as Extreme.
Drop, cover, and hold on. Stay away from windows, and if outdoors, move to an open area. After the shaking stops, check for injuries and be ready for aftershocks. Prepare an emergency kit with water, food, first aid, and a flashlight.
Data sources: USGS real‑time feed, USGS historical archive, and Wikipedia. Page refreshes live earthquake data every 60 seconds.