A submarine eruption that began on May 8, 2026, continues in the central Bismarck Sea, about 130 km (81 miles) southeast of Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. The eruption revealed a previously unmapped underwater volcano, now provisionally named Titan Ridge Volcano, in a remote and tectonically active area of the Pacific Ocean.
Darwin VAAC is reporting a rare volcanic ash emission from a submarine volcano in the Bismarck Sea Volcanic Province, Papua New Guinea, since Monday, May 11, 2026. By Wednesday, May 13, ash was rising to about 4 km (13 000 feet) above sea level, while satellite imagery showed water discoloration near the advisory area. Meteorological cloud partly obscured the ash in the latest imagery, but Himawari-9 observations and model guidance continued to support the advisory.
A landslide in the remote Lamarain area of Gazelle District, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, killed 10 people after prolonged heavy rain linked to Tropical Cyclone Maila. Local community accounts said the victims had been sheltering in makeshift garden houses after flooding cut off access between their village and gardens.
Tropical Cyclone Maila left at least 11 people dead in Bougainville and eastern Papua New Guinea by April 13, 2026, after days of heavy rain, landslides, flooding, and coastal impacts. Eight people were killed when a landslide buried a house in Asiko Village in Central Bougainville, the deadliest single incident reported during the storm.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.5 hit Papua New Guinea at 10:31 UTC (21:31 local time) on December 22, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 110.2 km (68 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.4 at a depth of 88 km (55 miles). There is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
At least 21 people were killed after a landslide struck a village in Papua New Guinea on Friday Morning, October 31, 2025.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 hit the Admiralty Islands region, Papua New Guinea at 02:08 UTC on October 10, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.6 hit near Lae, Papua New Guinea, at 21:05 LT (11:05 UTC) on October 7, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 99 km (61 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.7 at a depth of 100 km (62 miles). No tsunami warnings have been issued.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea at 16:59 UTC on September 16, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 77 km (48 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.4 hit near the coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea at 15:05 UTC. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
