Significant 5.0 quake hits near Aitape, West Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
5.0 quake 16 Dec 1:44 am (GMT +10)

The United States Geological Survey reported a magnitude 5.0 quake in Papua New Guinea near Aitape, West Sepik Province, only 24 minutes ago. The earthquake hit early morning on Friday, December 16th, 2022, at 1:44 am local time at a moderately shallow depth of 37.3 km. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 4.2 earthquake. A third agency, the citizen-seismograph network of RaspberryShake, reported the same quake at magnitude 5.0.
Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicenter. It should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves, broken windows, etc.
In Aitape (pop. 5,500) located 7 km from the epicenter, the quake should have been felt as light shaking.
Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Vanimo (pop. 11,200) located 120 km from the epicenter, and Vanimo (pop. 11,200) 120 km away.
VolcanoDiscovery will automatically update magnitude and depth if these change and follow up if other significant news about the quake become available. If you’re in the area, please send us your experience through our reporting mechanism, either online or via our mobile app. This will help us provide more first-hand updates to anyone around the globe who wants to know more about this quake.


Earthquake data:
Date & time: Dec 16, 2022 12:44 am (GMT +9) local time (15 Dec 2022 15:44 GMT)
Magnitude: 5.0
Depth: 37.3 km
Epicenterlatitude / longitude: 3.13°S / 142.28°E (West Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea)
Primary data source: USGS
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquake/news/199259/Significant-50-quake-hits-near-Aitape-West-Sepik-Province-Papua-New-Guinea.html