Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-5.4 earthquake strikes off the coast of Bougainville Island at 1517 Jan. 26

Event

A magnitude-5.4 offshore earthquake struck south of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea, at 1517 Jan. 26. The epicenter was about 82 km (50 miles) south-southeast of Panguna, Papua New Guinea, and 168 km (104 miles) northwest of Gizo, Solomon Islands. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 87 km (54 miles), and shaking may have occurred in southern Bougainville Island and Choiseul and Western provinces in the northern Solomon Islands. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties due to the earthquake; however, it could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event did not prompt a 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 no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly 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.