On Tuesday Afternoon a Shallow M5.5 AFTERSHOCK struck in the Bismarck Sea 146km from Kokopo (Papua New Guinea).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on November 14th, 2023. Last updated November 28th, 2023.

In the Bismarck Sea 146 kilometer from Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, a shallow and significant Magnitude 5.5 aftershock occurred in the afternoon of Tuesday November 14th, 2023. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 700 thousand people.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Bismarck Sea, 60 kilometers (37 mi) off the coast of Papua New Guinea, 146 kilometer west-northwest of Kokopo in East New Britain. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Nov 14, 2023 15:53 (Port Moresby Time) - Nov 14, 2023 05:53 Universal Time.
Location:	146 km WNW of Kokopo, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Coordinates 4°2'24"S 150°59'26"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.5 Detected by 14 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.083 .
Depth:	10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 700 thousand people exposed to shaking

An estimated 700 thousand have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

An estimated 7,500 people were exposed to level IV. At this level, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 690 thousand). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Papua New Guinea .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
3,490	II	Very weak	None
689,100	III	Weak	Probably none
7,500	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Papua New Guinea . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Kokopo in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Kokopo is located 146 kilometer (91 mi) west-northwest of the epicenter. Kokopo experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly III. That level implies weak shaking and probably no damage.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
146 km (91 mi) ESE from epicenter	Kokopo East New Britain, Papua New Guinea.	III Weak
193 km (120 mi) SSW from epicenter	Kimbe West New Britain, Papua New Guinea.	III Weak

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is IV.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 1 person

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1 person has reported shaking in one place in Papua New Guinea.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Kimbe, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea: 1 person.

This is likely an aftershock

This earthquake was an aftershock. A larger mag. 6.1 earthquake struck 13 km (8 mi) north in advance of this 5.5 earthquake around 22 hrs earlier.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 4.9	1 day earlier Nov 12, 2023 14:47 (Port Moresby Time)	32 km (20 mi) ENE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 5.9	1 day earlier Nov 12, 2023 14:51 (Port Moresby Time)	51 km (32 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 5.5	1 day earlier Nov 12, 2023 15:54 (Port Moresby Time)	26 km (16 mi) ENE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 5.0	1 day earlier Nov 12, 2023 16:02 (Port Moresby Time)	22 km (13 mi) ENE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 5.2	1 day earlier Nov 12, 2023 16:12 (Port Moresby Time)	22 km (13 mi) E from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.9	1 day earlier Nov 12, 2023 16:25 (Port Moresby Time)	49 km (30 mi) ESE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.9	1 day earlier Nov 12, 2023 16:59 (Port Moresby Time)	43 km (26 mi) ESE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.8	24 hrs earlier Nov 12, 2023 18:01 (Port Moresby Time)	58 km (36 mi) ENE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.9	23 hrs earlier Nov 12, 2023 18:53 (Port Moresby Time)	60 km (37 mi) ENE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 5.2	22 hrs earlier Nov 12, 2023 19:48 (Port Moresby Time)	22 km (13 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.3	14 hrs earlier Nov 13, 2023 03:44 (Port Moresby Time)	24 km (15 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.6	14 hrs earlier Nov 13, 2023 04:10 (Port Moresby Time)	45 km (28 mi) N from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.5	12 hrs earlier Nov 13, 2023 05:45 (Port Moresby Time)	16 km (10 mi) E from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.6	11 hrs earlier Nov 13, 2023 06:41 (Port Moresby Time)	25 km (16 mi) ENE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.3	10 hrs earlier Nov 13, 2023 08:04 (Port Moresby Time)	89 km (55 mi) ENE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.6	10 hrs earlier Nov 13, 2023 08:08 (Port Moresby Time)	13 km (8 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Main Shock	M 6.1	Nov 13, 2023 17:43 (Port Moresby Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.9	9 hrs later Nov 14, 2023 02:39 (Port Moresby Time)	8 km (5 mi) SE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.6	15 hrs later Nov 14, 2023 08:15 (Port Moresby Time)	12 km (7 mi) SSE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.9	16 hrs later Nov 14, 2023 09:59 (Port Moresby Time)	20 km (13 mi) S from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.3	21 hrs later Nov 14, 2023 15:00 (Port Moresby Time)	12 km (7 mi) ESE from Main Shock.
Aftershock This Earthquake	M 5.5	22 hrs later Nov 14, 2023 15:53 (Port Moresby Time)	13 km (8 mi) S from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 5.1	1 day later Nov 14, 2023 23:27 (Port Moresby Time)	7 km (4 mi) SSE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 5.1	1 day later Nov 14, 2023 23:29 (Port Moresby Time)	0.2 km (0.1 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.5	1 day later Nov 15, 2023 01:34 (Port Moresby Time)	59 km (37 mi) ENE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.7	3 days later Nov 17, 2023 01:45 (Port Moresby Time)	27 km (17 mi) SSE from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. In total, 129 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.5 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 28 days.

Low tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.5. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 10 km (6 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 28/11/23 01:18 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.