September 20, 1935 Earthquake: N-Central, Papua New Guinea
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck N-Central, Papua New Guinea on September 20, 1935 at 01:46:43 UTC, 30 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- September 20, 1935
- Time
- 01:46:43 UTC
- Place
- N-Central, Papua New Guinea
- Magnitude
- 7.8 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 30 km (19 mi)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 3.824° S, 141.416° E
- Country
- Papua New Guinea
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1935, September 20, 01:46.6 UTC. New Guinea, 4 S, 142 E, depth normal. (reference #45)
1935, September 20, 01:46:33 UTC. 3.5 S, 141.8 S, depth normal, magnitude 7.9 MS. (reference #2666)
1935, September 20, 01:46:42.75 UTC. 3.92 S, 141.33 E, depth 35 km, 8.1 Mw P&S, 7.9, Ms ABE1, 7.7 Ms P&S,7.6 mB ABE1, 7.9 UK B&D. (reference #9910)
1935, September 20, 01:46:43.45 UTC. 3.824 S, 141.416 E, depth 30 km, 7.84 Mw. (reference #10476)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- June 25, 1976, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia
- July 17, 1998, Sissano, Papua New Guinea
- October 29, 1976, Jayawijaya, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia
- October 7, 1900, NW. Irian Jaya, Indonesia
- March 23, 2024, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea
- February 9, 2023, Jayapura, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia
- September 8, 2002, Kairiru Is, Muschu Is, Wewak, Papua New Guinea
- January 10, 2002, Aitape, Papua New Guinea
- July 29, 1917, Papua New Guinea
- August 7, 1931, Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea
- February 22, 1951, Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea
- July 3, 1918, N Coast, Papua New Guinea
- December 15, 1907, Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea
- November 21, 1919, Irian Jaya Region, Indonesia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1935The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1935Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 3559.