PAGER - M 6.3 - NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake 144 km East of this one struck Papua New Guinea on December 21, 1983 (UTC), with estimated population exposures of 5,000 at intensity VII and 5,000 at intensity VI, resulting in a reported 10 fatalities. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused landslides and liquefaction that may have contributed to losses.
Exposure Summary
Estimated Population Exposed to Earthquake Shaking
| Est. Modified Mercalli Intensity | Est. Population Exposure | Perceived Shaking | Potential Structure Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resistant | Vulnerable | |||
| X | 0 | Extreme | V. Heavy | V. Heavy |
| IX | 0 | Violent | Heavy | V. Heavy |
| VIII | 0 | Severe | Moderate/Heavy | Heavy |
| VII | 0 | Very Strong | Moderate | Moderate/Heavy |
| VI | 17k | Strong | Light | Moderate |
| V | 121k | Moderate | V. Light | Light |
| IV | 70k | Light | none | none |
| II-III | 357k* | Weak | none | none |
| I | --* | Not Felt | none | none |
| Population Exposure Population per ~1 sq. km. from LandScan | Cities Exposed
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| Shaking Intensity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PAGER results are generally available on the Internet within 30 minutes of the earthquake’s occurrence. However, information on the extent of shaking will be uncertain in the minutes and hours following and earthquake and typically improves as additional sensor data and reported intensities are acquired and incorporated into models of the earthquake's source. Users of PAGER estimates should account for uncertainty and always seek the most current PAGER release for any earthquake.

