Categorized | Earthquake, News

Strong quake in Papua New Guinea, no tsunami threat to Hawaii

Magnitude
6.7

Depth
499 km

Time
31 Aug 2016 13:11:36 UTC
30 Aug 2016 17:11:36 HST

Location with respect to nearby cities
39 km (24 mi) E of Namatanai, Papua New Guinea
93 km (57 mi) NE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
253 km (156 mi) ESE of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea
358 km (221 mi) NE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea
888 km (550 mi) NE of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

EVALUATION
———-
* There is no tsunami danger for the areas listed above.

* Based on the depth of the earthquake a tsunami is not expected.

USGS: How large does an earthquake have to be to cause a tsunami?

Magnitudes below 6.5
Earthquakes of this magnitude are very unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Magnitudes between 6.5 and 7.5
Earthquakes of this size do not usually produce destructive tsunamis. However, small sea level changes may be observed in the vicinity of the epicenter. Tsunamis capable of producing damage or casualties are rare in this magnitude range but have occurred due to secondary effects such as landslides or submarine slumps.

Magnitudes between 7.6 and 7.8
Earthquakes of this size may produce destructive tsunamis especially near the epicenter; at greater distances small sea level changes may be observed. Tsunamis capable of producing damage at great distances are rare in the magnitude range.

Magnitude 7.9 and greater
Destructive local tsunamis are possible near the epicenter, and significant sea level changes and damage may occur in a broader region.

Note that with a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, the probability of an aftershock with a magnitude exceeding 7.5 is not negligible. To date, the largest aftershock recorded has been magnitude 7.1 that did not produce a damaging tsunami.

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