Updated 2024-06-16 23:43:43 UTC

M 5.9 — 20 km NW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

Magnitude 5.9, depth 196.0 km, 2015-03-16 03:00:05 UTC.

MagnitudeM 5.9
Depth196.0 km
Felt reports—
Statusreviewed
TsunamiNo
Quake Pulse Activity Index

Activity trend

A high index means recent activity is high relative to the selected historical baseline. It does not mean that a larger earthquake is about to occur.

Quake Pulse Activity Index33/100Normal
Current 30 days22
Historical monthly median26.0
Historical percentileP33
M5+ in 30 days11
M6+ in 30 days0
Activity trendbelow the historical median (-15%)
Baseline months: 60Last calculation: 2026-09-03 06:17:39How the index works →
Quake Pulse

What to know

A short factual reading of this event from the available observations.

  • Magnitude M 5.9 at 196.0 km depth.
  • The available PAGER level is GREEN.
Counts describe detected earthquakes and are not a forecast or hazard assessment.
Quake Pulse

Within the Quake Pulse database

Long-term comparisons are more robust at higher magnitudes because small-earthquake detection capability has changed over time.

Magnitude rank in database#3,991
Magnitude rank in country#289
M4.5+ within 250 km, ±15 days30
Quake Pulse

Impact and context

Descriptive indicators available for this event and its surroundings.

32/100Moderate context
Felt reports—
Max felt intensity (CDI)—
Instrumental intensity (MMI)3.7
PAGER alertGREEN
Tsunami indicator—
USGS significance536
Depth contextIntermediate
Nearby major city—
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These indicators describe data available after detection. They are neither a forecast nor a direct estimate of damage or individual risk.

Quake Pulse

Around this epicenter

Nearby events observed around this epicenter. Spatial proximity does not necessarily mean they belong to the same sequence.

M 5.9 · 20 km NW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea · 250 kmInteractive 3D view of earthquakes within 250 km of M 5.9 · 20 km NW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.M 5.9 · 20 km NW of Rabaul, Papua New GuineaM 4.9 · 167 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 207.4 kmM 4.6 · 131 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 170.8 kmM 5.3 · 88 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 126.2 kmM 4.5 · 172 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 212.1 kmM 4.5 · 152 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 192.9 kmM 5.2 · 181 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 221.9 kmM 4.7 · 51 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 91.6 kmM 4.5 · 111 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 151.3 kmM 4.7 · 166 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 193.1 kmM 5.5 · 142 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 181.0 kmM 5.3 · 121 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 159.2 kmM 4.7 · 147 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 187.7 kmM 5.1 · 128 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 169.0 kmM 4.6 · 136 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 173.1 kmM 5.2 · 115 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 155.4 kmM 4.8 · 158 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 198.1 kmM 4.9 · 168 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 208.5 kmM 4.9 · 163 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 203.4 kmM 4.5 · 164 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 205.3 kmM 4.5 · 115 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 154.8 kmM 4.6 · 109 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 149.9 kmM 4.7 · New Britain region, Papua New Guinea · 192.3 kmM 4.6 · 169 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 210.0 kmM 4.7 · 110 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 148.8 kmM 4.6 · 131 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 164.4 kmM 4.5 · 142 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 179.3 kmM 4.9 · 149 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 187.9 kmM 4.8 · 100 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 141.0 kmM 6.0 · 65 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 104.6 kmM 5.7 · 67 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 105.8 kmM 4.7 · 147 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 187.9 kmM 4.5 · 122 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 162.3 kmM 4.7 · 121 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 158.8 kmM 4.5 · 124 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 164.7 kmM 4.8 · 117 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 156.8 kmM 4.5 · 114 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 155.1 kmM 4.9 · 136 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 176.6 kmM 4.9 · 71 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 108.8 kmM 4.5 · 119 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 160.0 kmM 5.3 · 51 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 91.6 kmM 4.7 · 149 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 190.4 kmM 4.6 · 147 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 187.7 kmM 4.8 · 141 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 181.3 kmM 4.7 · 140 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 180.6 kmM 4.5 · 101 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 141.9 kmM 4.8 · 125 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 165.7 kmM 4.7 · 126 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 166.4 kmM 5.3 · 123 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 160.4 kmM 4.6 · 85 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 123.7 kmM 4.8 · 119 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 159.3 kmM 4.6 · 111 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 151.6 kmM 4.5 · 95 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 134.7 kmM 4.7 · 119 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 159.1 kmM 5.1 · 93 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 133.1 kmM 5.7 · New Britain region, Papua New Guinea · 141.0 kmM 7.5 · 53 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 93.9 kmM 4.6 · 116 km ENE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea · 162.8 kmM 4.8 · 128 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 156.6 kmM 5.1 · 105 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea · 208.3 kmM 4.6 · 17 km WNW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea · 5.7 kmM 4.7 · 101 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 108.5 kmM 5.1 · 141 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 180.9 kmM 4.7 · 152 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 189.8 kmM 4.6 · 208 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · 249.3 kmM 5.3 · 92 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea · 223.0 km
M 5.9 · 20 km NW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea250 km65 Recent earthquakes

Descriptive map centered on the epicenter; it does not represent felt intensity or risk.

Sequence context

No public sequence is currently associated with this event.

Nearby events · 250 km

Quake Pulse

USGS data evolution

Earthquake parameters can be revised after first publication. This timeline shows versions retained by Quake Pulse.

Revisions1
Magnitude change+0.0M 5.9 → M 5.9
Depth change+0.0 km
Last update1217031 min
2024-06-16 23:43:43 UTC2024-06-16 23:43:43 UTC

Explore related context

Putting this earthquake in context

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Interpret the numbers

Magnitude, depth, felt reports and status describe different parts of the event. None of them alone predicts the consequences for a specific city.

Important limits

If the earthquake creates a safety concern, follow local authorities and official warning channels rather than relying on a public data website.

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