Indonesia: Magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurs in the Arafura Sea off West Papua Province at 16:54 WIT March 18

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in the Arafura Sea, south of West Papua Province, at around 16:54 WIT March 18. The epicenter was about 215 km (133 miles) south-southeast of Teluk Bintuni, West Papua Province. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles). Weak-to-light shaking was probably felt in southern parts of West Papua Province, western areas of Papua Province, and Maluku Province's Aru Islands Regency. There have been no reports of damage or casualties. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days.

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.