Major magnitude 7.0 earthquake - 177 km southwest of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, on Monday, October 12, 1987 at 13:57 GMT
Quake Data | Interactive map | User Reports | Aftershocks | Earlier quakes here | Quakes in Papua New Guinea | Quakes in Solomon Islands | Bougainville | Western Province | East New Britain Province | National Capital


Major magnitude 7.0 earthquake at 25 km depth
1 Jan 00:00 UTC: First to report: USGS after 30 seconds.
Earthquake details
Date & time | Oct 12, 1987 13:57:04 UTC |
Local time at epicenter | |
Status | Confirmed |
Magnitude | 7 |
Depth | 24.7 km |
Epicenter latitude / longitude | 7.288°S / 154.371°E ![]() |
Antipode | 7.288°N / 25.629°W |
Shaking intensity | Very strong shaking near epicenter |
Felt | 0 reports |
Primary data source | USGS (United States Geological Survey) |
Nearest volcano | Bagana (157 km / 98 mi) |
Nearby towns and cities | 158 km (98 mi) WSW of Buin (pop: 750) | Show on map | Quakes nearby 164 km (102 mi) SW of Panguna (pop: 2,920) | Show on map | Quakes nearby 177 km (110 mi) SW of Arawa (pop: 40,300) | Show on map | Quakes nearby 287 km (178 mi) WNW of Gizo (New Georgia Group, Solomon Islands) (pop: 6,150) | Show on map | Quakes nearby 402 km (250 mi) SE of Kokopo (pop: 26,300) | Show on map | Quakes nearby 421 km (262 mi) SE of Rabaul (pop: 8,070) | Show on map | Quakes nearby 831 km (516 mi) ENE of Port Moresby (pop: 283,700) | Show on map | Quakes nearby |
Estimated seismic energy released | 2 x 1015 joules (554 gigawatt hours, equivalent to 4.8 x 105 tons of TNT or 29.8 atomic bombs!) | about seismic energy |
Data for the same earthquake reported by different agencies
Info: The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.
Mag. | Depth | Location | Source |
7.0 | 25 km | Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea | USGS |
User reports for this quake
User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.
Aftershocks
[More info]
Recorded aftershocks, latest first (112 quakes)
Date and time![]() | Mag Depth | Location | Details |
Oct 11, 1989 03:48 33 years ago | 4.4 67 km | 80 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 1, 1989 19:14 33 years ago | 5.2 36 km | 90 km W of Stirling Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Sep 23, 1989 18:37 33 years ago | 4.5 69 km | 33 km W of Alu Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Sep 15, 1989 21:32 33 years ago | 4.4 83 km | 21 km W of Alu Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Aug 30, 1989 23:53 33 years ago | 4.3 51 km | 125 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Aug 20, 1989 10:58 33 years ago | 4.6 94 km | 88 km S of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 19, 1989 03:14 33 years ago | 5.2 46 km | 184 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jun 29, 1989 03:57 33 years ago | 5.1 82 km | 25 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jun 10, 1989 12:02 33 years ago | 4.1 66 km | 28 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
May 8, 1989 13:48 33 years ago | 4.4 79 km | 156 km SW of Tanwoa Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
May 8, 1989 09:45 33 years ago | 4.8 58 km | 135 km SW of Tanwoa Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Apr 10, 1989 10:08 33 years ago | 4.9 67 km | 26 km NW of Alu Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Mar 10, 1989 09:10 33 years ago | 5.1 106 km | Baobi Island, Solomon Islands, 89 km SE of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Feb 18, 1989 22:28 34 years ago | 4.2 80 km | 82 km S of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Feb 13, 1989 07:03 34 years ago | 4.3 89 km | 23 km E of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Feb 8, 1989 19:58 34 years ago | 4.9 34 km | 98 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Feb 8, 1989 16:04 34 years ago | 5.0 47 km | 91 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 30, 1989 13:35 34 years ago | 4.3 69 km | 70 km S of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 15, 1989 14:27 34 years ago | 4.7 62 km | 30 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 13, 1989 09:20 34 years ago | 4.2 75 km | 59 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 13, 1989 08:11 34 years ago | 5.6 74 km | 64 km S of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 9, 1989 10:09 34 years ago | 5.0 25 km | 116 km SW of Tanwoa Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Dec 12, 1988 10:08 34 years ago | 5.0 149 km | 29 km W of Tanwoa Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Dec 9, 1988 15:09 34 years ago | 4.5 186 km | 22 km NW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Nov 28, 1988 17:57 34 years ago | 5.0 71 km | 34 km W of Alu Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Nov 20, 1988 04:33 34 years ago | 4.1 33 km | 52 km SE of Stirling Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Nov 20, 1988 03:41 34 years ago | 5.0 58 km | 44 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 22, 1988 00:55 34 years ago | 4.8 60 km | 36 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 14, 1988 22:47 34 years ago | 4.3 168 km | 37 km NW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1988 14:45 34 years ago | 4.4 72 km | 34 km S of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Sep 30, 1988 10:40 34 years ago | 4.8 75 km | 28 km N of Treasury s Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Aug 24, 1988 23:43 34 years ago | 4.9 39 km | 191 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Aug 23, 1988 14:41 34 years ago | 4.7 415 km | 53 km S of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Aug 20, 1988 12:57 34 years ago | 5.4 27 km | 293 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Aug 5, 1988 18:47 34 years ago | 4.8 65 km | 79 km W of Tanwoa Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Aug 2, 1988 05:30 34 years ago | 3.9 33 km | 272 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 31, 1988 15:24 34 years ago | 4.0 33 km | 300 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 31, 1988 06:43 34 years ago | 4.7 21 km | 284 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 31, 1988 03:45 34 years ago | 4.7 28 km | 279 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 31, 1988 01:28 34 years ago | 5.5 33 km | 274 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 29, 1988 08:31 34 years ago | 5.0 46 km | 245 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 27, 1988 23:48 34 years ago | 4.9 48 km | Solomon Islands | More |
Jul 27, 1988 16:45 34 years ago | 4.2 33 km | 272 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 27, 1988 14:36 34 years ago | 3.6 102 km | 73 km S of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 27, 1988 12:29 34 years ago | 4.6 195 km | Otua Islet, 51 km SE of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 26, 1988 20:11 34 years ago | 4.4 33 km | 262 km S of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 24, 1988 22:16 34 years ago | 5.3 33 km | Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 24, 1988 14:47 34 years ago | 5.3 31 km | 292 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 24, 1988 12:20 34 years ago | 3.8 33 km | 284 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 24, 1988 11:57 34 years ago | 3.8 33 km | 299 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 24, 1988 05:48 34 years ago | 4.5 33 km | 277 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 24, 1988 02:51 34 years ago | 4.9 80 km | 32 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 24, 1988 02:21 34 years ago | 4.2 33 km | 275 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 23, 1988 23:58 34 years ago | 4.3 33 km | 269 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 23, 1988 22:32 34 years ago | 5.2 34 km | 297 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 23, 1988 19:55 34 years ago | 5.2 22 km | 254 km S of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 23, 1988 18:24 34 years ago | 4.0 33 km | 252 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 23, 1988 17:11 34 years ago | 5.6 28 km | 284 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 23, 1988 16:19 34 years ago | 4.7 50 km | 299 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 8, 1988 16:35 34 years ago | 5.6 74 km | 40 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jul 4, 1988 21:36 34 years ago | 4.8 63 km | 124 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jun 23, 1988 08:08 34 years ago | 5.0 65 km | 168 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jun 15, 1988 17:37 34 years ago | 5.1 45 km | 40 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
May 8, 1988 18:30 34 years ago | 3.8 63 km | 62 km SW of Tanwoa Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
May 3, 1988 12:02 34 years ago | 4.5 33 km | 91 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Apr 23, 1988 22:58 34 years ago | 4.6 33 km | 36 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Apr 20, 1988 02:38 34 years ago | 5.2 8.4 km | 265 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Apr 12, 1988 11:20 34 years ago | 4.8 28 km | 68 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Apr 2, 1988 20:27 34 years ago | 5.4 61 km | 78 km S of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Mar 27, 1988 19:58 34 years ago | 4.7 13 km | 97 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Mar 23, 1988 15:22 34 years ago | 4.7 66 km | Torokina Islet, 70 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Mar 21, 1988 19:23 34 years ago | 5.0 10 km | 183 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Feb 24, 1988 03:28 35 years ago | 5.2 68 km | 24 km NW of Alu Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Feb 15, 1988 16:22 35 years ago | 4.0 21 km | 165 km S of Wallis Island, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea | More |
Feb 14, 1988 05:08 35 years ago | 5.1 23 km | 179 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Feb 5, 1988 17:24 35 years ago | 3.9 48 km | 64 km S of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 16, 1988 10:03 35 years ago | 4.6 56 km | 81 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 14, 1988 07:14 35 years ago | 4.0 28 km | 64 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 13, 1988 17:57 35 years ago | 4.5 33 km | 71 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 13, 1988 01:14 35 years ago | 5.3 42 km | 55 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 12, 1988 00:44 35 years ago | 4.7 33 km | 65 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 11, 1988 22:27 35 years ago | 5.9 21 km | 69 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 10, 1988 04:48 35 years ago | 4.3 33 km | 30 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Jan 6, 1988 14:06 35 years ago | 4.9 19 km | Solomon Islands, 181 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Dec 12, 1987 16:19 35 years ago | 3.9 47 km | 58 km W of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Dec 4, 1987 19:51 35 years ago | 6.4 145 km | 25 km SW of Tanwoa Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Nov 22, 1987 07:53 35 years ago | 4.2 72 km | 25 km NW of Alu Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Nov 12, 1987 13:35 35 years ago | 4.2 33 km | 81 km W of Treasury s Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Nov 1, 1987 17:03 35 years ago | 4.2 33 km | 179 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 27, 1987 12:34 35 years ago | 4.6 10 km | 175 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 25, 1987 16:28 35 years ago | 4.7 79 km | 51 km S of Otua Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 16, 1987 16:42 35 years ago | 4.7 15 km | 183 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 15, 1987 20:41 35 years ago | 4.6 33 km | 172 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 14, 1987 18:26 35 years ago | 4.9 29 km | 176 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 14, 1987 11:39 35 years ago | 5.2 33 km | 172 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 14, 1987 07:22 35 years ago | 4.4 33 km | 198 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 13, 1987 13:54 35 years ago | 5.6 15 km | 178 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 13, 1987 10:40 35 years ago | 4.6 33 km | 179 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 13, 1987 09:38 35 years ago | 4.7 17 km | 118 km W of Treasury s Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands | More |
Oct 12, 1987 22:22 35 years ago | 4.7 13 km | 178 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 20:48 35 years ago | 4.7 18 km | 172 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 19:34 35 years ago | 4.8 33 km | 173 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 19:00 35 years ago | 4.2 33 km | 182 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 18:56 35 years ago | 4.7 18 km | 166 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 17:58 35 years ago | 3.9 33 km | 118 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 16:17 35 years ago | 4.7 33 km | 170 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 16:04 35 years ago | 3.8 32 km | 166 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 15:40 35 years ago | 4.1 33 km | 114 km SW of Torokina Islet Island, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 15:13 35 years ago | 5.0 34 km | 174 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 14:49 35 years ago | 4.8 22 km | 181 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 14:21 35 years ago | 5.3 24 km | 173 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Oct 12, 1987 14:09 35 years ago | 5.5 18 km | 167 km SW of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea | More |
Show all
Earlier earthquakes in the same area
Click here to search our database for earlier earthquakes in the same area since 1900!