User:Quake1234/sandbox9
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (September 2024) |
| UTC time | 2025-01-11 00:07:01 |
|---|---|
| Local date | 11 January 2025 |
| Local time | 09:07 PGT |
| Magnitude | 7.3 Ms 7.1 Mw |
| Depth | 7.5 km (5 mi) |
| Epicenter | 5°08′42″S 147°49′30″E / 5.145°S 147.825°E |
| Areas affected | Morobe, Madang and New Britain Provinces, New Guinea Prefecture, Papua |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
| Casualties | 3+ fatalities, 30+ injuries |
On 11 January 2025, at 09:07:01 PGT (00:07 UTC), an earthquake of Ms 7.3 struck 28 km (17 mi) northeast of Tolokiwa Island, located in Morobe Province, Papua.[1][2] The strike-slip-faulting earthquake occurred with a hypocenter depth of 7.5 km (4.7 mi).[3]
Tectonic setting
[edit]Earthquake
[edit]The USGS gave the earthquake a magnitude of Mww 7.1 and reported a depth of 7.5 km (4.7 mi).[4] The PGA put the earthquake's magnitude at Ms 7.3.[5] It was the largest recorded earthquake to occur on the Siassi Fault since December 1997.[6]
Intensity
[edit]According to the PGA, shaking of MMI VIII was recorded in Tolokiwa, with the island's only seismic sensor recording an intensity of 7.6, making it the most intense earthquake to hit the island.[7] The neighboring islands of Umboi and Sakar recorded intensities of MMI VII.[8] MMI VI shaking was felt in Wasu and Sialum cities, as well as in Gloucester, New Britian Province, and Long Island, Madang Province.[9] The city of Saidor in Madang Province recorded MMI V.[10] Shaking of MMI IV was felt throughout much of the Huon Peninsula, including in the cities of Lae, Finschhafen and Gusap, as well as Goroka and Kainantu in Highlands Province and the city of Madang.[11] Despite the earthquake's highly shallow depth, all prefectures of mainland Papua recorded intensities above MMI II, and there were reports of shaking as far away as Vanimo,[12] Kiunga,[13] Kavieng,[14] Lorengau[15] and Arawa.[16]
| Intensity | Province | Location | Pop. exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIII | Morobe | Tolokiwa | 15k |
| VII | Morobe | Umboi, Sakar | 467k |
| VI | Morobe | Wasu, Sialum | 724k |
| Madang | Long Island | ||
| New Britain | Gloucester | ||
| V | Morobe | Kabwum, Hube, Pindiu | 3,218k |
| Madang | Saidor, Warai | ||
| New Britain | Kalai |
Impact
[edit]Morobe
[edit]In Finschhafen, a 71-year-old man died of a heart attack.[17] One woman died of panic in Kabwum, where two people were injured.[18] Additionally, there were five injuries in Lae and two more in Kaiapit.[19]
Madang
[edit]In Saidor, 12 people sustained minor injuries.[20] Three homes and a four-story building were damaged in the city, including one from a fire.[21] A construction worker died of a heart attack and three others were injured in Madang City.[22]
New Britain
[edit]One house was damaged in Kalai.[23]
Highlands
[edit]In Goroka, four people were injured and some pipelines were damaged at a hospital.[24] Two more people were hurt in Kainantu, where tiles fell from the roof of a school.[25]
Response
[edit]Earthquake advisory
[edit]The Earthquake Early Warning system issued a warning at 09:07:13 local time; 3.8 seconds after the initial detection of seismic waves. The earthquake was first detected 3.4 seconds after it had occurred, and was given a seismic intensity of MMI IV. The early warning came 3.8 seconds later when instruments recorded an intensity of MMI VI. Another warning was issued for a seismic intensity of MMI VIII.