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Latest earthquakes near Bougainville, Papua New Guinea today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Bougainville? If an earthquake is happening right now near Bougainville, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Bougainville Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Bougainville. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Bougainville and elsewhere.
Jul 30, 2026 01:46PM
Shallow M5.3 AFTERSHOCK hit in the Solomon Sea 225km from Arawa (Papua New Guinea) on Thursday Afternoon.
Jul 29, 2026 07:27AM
Shallow M5.4 Earthquake hit in the Solomon Sea 230km from Arawa (Papua New Guinea) on Wednesday Morning.
Bougainville Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 1713 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 171 earthquakes per year, or 14 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Bougainville roughly every 2 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Bougainville in 2016. A total of 434 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Bougainville that year. The strongest had a 7.9 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Bougainville in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 or above have occurred near Bougainville during this time. Usually, higher magnitudes are less common than lower magnitudes. Small earthquakes with a magnitude below 4 on the Richter scale have been omitted from this overview.
| Magnitude | Earthquakes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Mag. 4 | 1467 | 85.64% |
| Mag. 5 | 231 | 13.49% |
| Mag. 6 | 13 | 0.76% |
| Mag. 7 | 2 | 0.12% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Bougainville
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Bougainville occurred on Jan 22, 2017 15:30 local time (Pacific/Bougainville timezone). It had a magnitude of 7.9 and struck 44 kilometers (27 mi) west of Arawa, at a depth of 135 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Bougainville in the list below.
A longer time ago, a MAG-8.2 earthquake struck on May 7, 1919 05:41, 246 kilometers (153 mi) west of Arawa. It is the strongest earthquake near Bougainville in the past 126 years (Our data goes back to January 1st, 1900).
In the table below you will find the strongest earthquakes that occurred near Bougainville, Papua New Guinea in the past 10 years. You can use the tabs to find the heaviest historic earthquakes since the year 1900 or within a specific year or distance from Bougainville.
Earthquakes by city in Bougainville
Click the links below for earthquake reports for major places in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Bougainville.
When was the last earthquake in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea?
A 5.3 magnitude earthquake hit near Bougainville on the afternoon of July 30, 2026 at 13:46 local time (Pacific/Bougainville). The center of this earthquake was located 225km west of Arawa at a depth of 10km under water in the Solomon Sea. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Bougainville, Papua New Guinea in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Bougainville, Papua New Guinea?
A 8.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Bougainville on the night of May 7, 1919 at 05:41 local time (Pacific/Bougainville). The center of this earthquake was located 246km northwest of Arawa at a depth of 35km under water in the South Pacific Ocean. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Bougainville since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Bougainville, Papua New Guinea?
In the past 10 years, 1713 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Bougainville. This averages to 171 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 2 days.
