A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea’s Eastern Highlands Province on Sunday morning, with tremors reportedly felt by some residents near the epicentre.
The earthquake occurred at 10:28 a.m. local time on 18 October 2026, approximately 87 kilometres (54 miles) from Goroka, a major town in the Eastern Highlands Province with a population of about 19,000.
According to preliminary earthquake information, the tremor originated at a depth of 124 kilometres (77 miles), placing it within the category of intermediate-depth earthquakes.
The depth may have reduced the intensity of shaking experienced at the surface, although the effects would have varied depending on distance from the epicentre and local ground conditions.
Goroka, located northwest of the epicentre, may have experienced weak shaking, while smaller communities closer to the source could have felt stronger tremors.
In Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea’s capital, approximately 352 kilometres (218 miles) from the epicentre, the earthquake was expected to have been felt, if at all, as very weak shaking.
There was no immediate information on casualties, damage to buildings or disruptions to essential services following the reported tremor.
Earthquakes of this magnitude are generally considered moderate, but their impact depends on factors including depth, distance from populated areas, building quality and the nature of the local terrain.
Papua New Guinea is highly susceptible to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity associated with the movement and interaction of tectonic plates.
The country regularly experiences seismic events, some of which can cause significant damage, particularly in remote communities where buildings may be vulnerable and access for emergency responders can be difficult.
Further assessments would be needed to establish the full effects of Sunday’s earthquake.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) event information places the earthquake about 31 kilometres southeast of Kainantu and records its depth at approximately 124 kilometres.
A separate earthquake-monitoring report indicated that no public felt reports had been submitted at the time of its update.
The additional background on Papua New Guinea’s earthquake vulnerability is consistent with Reuters reporting on previous seismic events in the country, including a deadly 2024 earthquake that destroyed more than 1,000 homes, according to Australian media reports.
(Volcano Discovery)
