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Very strong M6.9 earthquake hits Papua New Guinea, hazardous tsunami waves possible

A very strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.9 hit New Britain region of Papua New Guinea at 20:05 UTC on April 4, 2025 (06:05 LT, April 5). The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.

m6.9 earthquake new britain papua new guinea location map f

Image credit: TW/SAM, Google

The epicenter was located 195 km (121 miles) ESE of Kimbe (population 18 847) and 215 km (133 miles) SSW of Kokopo (population 26 273), Papua New Guinea

40 000 people are estimated to have felt moderate shaking and 665 000 light.

Based on all available data, hazardous tsunami waves are possible for some coasts, NWS PTWC said.

Tsunami waves reaching 1 to 3 m (3.3 – 10 feet) above tide level are possible along some coasts of Papua New Guinea. Tsunami waves are forecast to be less than 0.3 m (1 foot) above tide level for the coasts of the Solomon Islands.

A tsunami is a series of waves, with the time between wave crests from 5 minutes to an hour.

Tsunami impacts can vary significantly from one section of the coast to the next due to local bathymetry and the shape and elevation of the shoreline. The hazard may persist for many hours or longer after the initial wave.

The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) and unreinforced brick masonry construction.

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

m6.9 earthquake new britain papua new guinea location map bg
Image credit: TW/SAM, Google

Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking

m6.9 earthquake new britain papua new guinea usgs epe
Image credit: USGS
m6.9 earthquake new britain papua new guinea usgs epet

Selected cities exposed

m6.9 earthquake new britain papua new guinea usgs sce

Regional seismicity

m6.9 earthquake new britain papua new guinea emsc regional seismicity
Image credit: EMSC

References:

1 M6.9 earthquake Papua New Guinea – USGS – April 4, 2025

2 M6.9 earthquake Papua New Guinea – EMSC – April 4, 2025

3 M6.9 earthquake Papua New Guinea – Tsunami Threat Message – PTWC – April 4, 2025

I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.

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  1. “How long shall My beloved wander in desolate places?! How long shall they strip the fruitful field bare and pollute the springs of living water?! The innocent are destroyed, and the earth is forsaken! The cities of men are a harbor for every foul and detestable bird, a nest for every kind of evil; behold, great wickedness dwells there! Therefore the earth shall rise up against the sons of men, and nature shall break forth in its fury and fight against them, until all in the earth grow weary and the heart of this people is torn!–A rent which is deep, a rent made wide.
    Behold, the earth shall shake and rumble from beneath, the cities shall break apart and the towers shall be toppled, and the glory of man shall be utterly devastated! The blood of the innocent shall cry out from the ground, every atrocity of man shall be remembered, when The Lord God strikes the earth with plague and famine and the waters turn to blood!
    For the generation of My wrath shall be shaken, the generation of My fury shall be broken without hand! Behold, the storm is already overhead, the whirlwind breaks forth from the midst of the clouds! SEEK SHELTER! For I have set My face against you, O sons of men, and with a strong hand and an outstretched arm I shall surely punish the inhabitants of the earth!

    Therefore hear and understand, receive of this Word and write this wisdom in your hearts. For upon these words does all life, all knowledge and all truth rest, even by which all things consist: I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life. And this is pure, undefiled love, the only means by which The Law of The Father may be fulfilled: You shall love The Lord your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your mind, with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength; and yes, beloved, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. For this is to walk in Me, this is to abide in Me, the only true religion in which is life.
    For apart from this is only enmity and rebellion against God, the ways of the world and the evil one, darkness of faces, bringing forth much pain and death, a multitude of tears and sorrow. Beloved, it is time that My servants learn to walk in My strength, for the day is far spent. It is time for those I am sending to drink deeply from My cup and embrace Me fully, that My grace may cover them as they prepare My way before Me.
Yet let all others fall away. Let the obstinate depart and the lukewarm pass to the wayside, until that which was planted at the first takes root, and that which was sown in the dry and cracked ground is watered once again. For I am coming quickly, and I will surely call out, and the first of many shall be gone from this place.
    Behold, I shall reveal My glory and the power of My strength, and the Word of The Lord shall speak! Desolations shall continue until the Consummation, and the hidden treasure shall appear out of the ground when I arise and shake the earth mightily! For as the shaking of an olive tree, or grape gleanings after the harvest, so shall I gather the remnant in the day of grief and bitter sorrow.
    For I am The Lord. I know what is most needful, I alone do what is right. And though I afflict, I will also heal; and though I strike the people in My wrath, I will also bind up their wounds. Behold, I shall bring the kingdoms of men to utter ruin, and make the face of the earth a desolation; for I AM HE who shall create new heavens and a new earth, in which justice shall run down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. For as I have spoken, so I speak; as I am, so shall I be… Says The King of Power and Glory, The Only Lord of Hosts, The Holy One of Israel.”

    (From The Volumes of Truth, Volume Seven, excerpts from “I Am Calling You Out: Part One”)

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