On 26 February 2018, at 3:44 a.m. (25 February, 17:44 UTC), an earthquake of 7.5 moment magnitude struck in Hela Province, Papua New Guinea. The earthquake's epicenter was west of the town of Komo. The intensity of the earthquake was IX ("Violent") on the Mercalli intensity scale. At least 31 people were killed and a further 300 were injured.