PNG: Magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurred off Bougainville Island at around 1723 BST Dec. 29

Event

A magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurred in the Solomon Sea off Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea, at around 1723 BST Dec. 29. The epicenter was about 118 km (73 miles) south of Buka on Buka Island. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 76 km (47 miles), and weak-to-light shaking probably occurred on Buka and Bougainville islands. Weak shaking may have occurred in the western parts of Choiseul and Western provinces in northern Solomon Islands. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days. The incident has not prompted any tsunami warning.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if authorities do not find damage. Utility outages are possible near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.