Papua New Guinea sits on a complex tangle of plate boundaries, making it one of the most earthquake-prone nations on the planet. This page pulls real records for Papua New Guinea: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Papua New Guinea.
Check Papua New Guinea hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk near Papua New Guinea - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Papua New Guinea - FAQ
Is Papua New Guinea at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 337 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 500 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M8.0 in 1906.
What was the biggest earthquake in Papua New Guinea?
The strongest earthquake on record near Papua New Guinea is M8.0, in 1906 (1906 Papua New Guinea Earthquake), from USGS.
Does Papua New Guinea get tsunamis?
Yes - 31 tsunamis since 1660 (most recently 2018) within 500 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 2,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Papua New Guinea?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.