Magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocks Papua New Guinea

December 22, 2025 Neo
Magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocks Papua New Guinea

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake rocked the island nation of Papua New Guinea on Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake struck at 10:31 a.m. UTC (5:31 a.m. ET) in the city of Goroka, theUSGS reported.

Goroka is the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. It's located just north of Australia.

So far, no tsunami warning has been issued for the region.

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake rocked Papua New Guinea on Monday morning, December 22, 2025, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake struck at 10:31 a.m. UTC (5:31 a.m. ET), the USGS reported.

Goroka is "a thriving busy city" with about 25,000 residents, and a major coffee producing region of the country renown for its Goroka Show and Goroka Coffee Festival, according to information fromUN Habitat.

As of early Monday, no injuries or damage had been immediately reported by local emergency officials.

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Earthquake registered nearly 68 miles deep

Data provided by USGS showed the earthquake was just over 68 miles deep.

Officials of the Banda Aceh prison examine the damage to a wall a day after an 8.6 magnitude earthquake hit the west coast of Indonesia in Banda Aceh on April 11, 2012. The 1906 Ecuador–Colombia Earthquake was recorded as a 8.8 magnitude earthquake. A magnitude 8.7 earthquake in the Rat Islands, which is part of the Aleutian Islands in southwestern Alaska struck on Feb. 4, 1965. An 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck Assam, Tibet, on Aug. 15, 1950. The Maule Earthquake struck Chile on Feb. 27, 2010. It was measured as a 8.8 magnitude earthquake. The 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake struck off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake resulted in a tsunami. This image shows a flooded Street on Midway Island. Two women walk through the rubble and devastation on March 20, 2011, in Rikuzentakata, Japan, after the Tohoku Earthquake. On March 11, 2011, the 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck and triggered a tsunami wave of up to 10 meters which engulfed large parts of north-eastern Japan. The 2004 Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami, also called the Indian Ocean Earthquake, is the third largest earthquake ever recorded. This aerial view shows Meulaboh, Indonesia, under water on Dec. 28, 2004, after a 9.1 magnitude earthquake and tidal waves hit Aceh province early on Dec. 26, 2004. The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, also known as the Prince William Sound Earthquake, struck Alaska on March 28, 1964. The 9.2 magnitude earthquake originated in Prince William Sound and is the second largest earthquake ever recorded. This photo shows the damage to Seward, Alaska, as a result of the earthquake and the resulting tsunamis that also spread burning oil throughout the town. A boat and the roofs of homes are seen sitting on the ground. Valdivia Earthquake was a 9.5 magnitude earthquake that rocked Chile on May 22, 1960. It is the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. This image from June 5, 1960, shows the remains of Corral harbour, in the province of Valdivia, Chile, after the earthquake and the tidal waves that struck the area.

Top 10 largest earthquakes around the world since 1900

Earthquake magnitudes

Here are the effects of earthquakes of various magnitudes, according toMichigan Technological University:

  • Below 2.5: Generally not felt

  • 2.5 to 5.4: Minor or no damage

  • 5.5 to 6.0: Slight damage to buildings

  • 6.1 to 6.9: Serious damage

  • 7.0 to 7.9: Major earthquake, serious damage

  • 8.0 or greater: Massive damage, can destroy communities

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Papua New Guinea struck by magnitude 6.5 earthquake

 

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