A series of moderate to strong earthquakes struck Papua New Guinea across late July 2026, registering magnitudes ranging from 3.5 to 5.7 in regions including the Solomon Sea, Bougainville, and East New Britain, according to seismic monitoring data from the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and Volcano Discovery.
Solomon Sea and Bougainville Earthquakes
A strong 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Solomon Sea on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 06:28 am local time (GMT +10), according to Volcano Discovery. The epicenter was located approximately 118 kilometers west of Taiof Island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The seismic event followed a 5.6 magnitude tremor recorded earlier in the New Ireland Region, as reported by the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and Xinhua.
Earlier in the week, seismic activity affected other parts of the island nation. A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck 152 kilometers southwest of Kokopo in the East New Britain Province on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 12:33 am Port Moresby time, according to Volcano Discovery tracking data.
Additional Regional Seismicity
Lighter seismic events were recorded across Papua New Guinea in the days preceding the Bougainville and East New Britain tremors. A light 3.5 magnitude earthquake occurred near the north coast of Papua New Guinea on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 09:41 pm (GMT +10), as documented by Volcano Discovery. Later that same evening, at 09:58 pm Port Moresby time, a moderate 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck the West Sepik Province.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the largest earthquake in Papua New Guinea in late July 2026?
According to Volcano Discovery, the strongest recorded tremor during this sequence was a 5.7 magnitude earthquake that hit the Solomon Sea, west of Taiof Island in Bougainville, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.