What the record shows for Papua New Guinea
The strongest earthquake on record near Papua New Guinea is a magnitude 8.0 in 1906, centred 1906 Papua New Guinea Earthquake - 120 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 6,733 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 500 km of Papua New Guinea - roughly 337 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 31 tsunamis within 500 km of Papua New Guinea between 1660 and 2018. The most significant was in 1660 near Long Island, which killed around 2,000 people.
46 volcanoes are catalogued near Papua New Guinea, including Long Island, Umboi, Hankow Reef, Ritter Island, Sakar, Koranga and 40 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Papua New Guinea sits on a complex tangle of plate boundaries, making it one of the most earthquake-prone nations on the planet.
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.
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.