Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-5.9 earthquake strikes in the Bismarck Sea off the coast of Madang Province April 27

Event

A magnitude-5.9 earthquake occurred in the Bismarck Sea, off of northeastern Papua New Guinea, at around 18:05 April 27. The epicenter was about 203 km (126 miles) north of Madang. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles) and likely produced moderate-to-light shaking in parts of northeast Papua New Guinea, including East Sepik, Madang, and Manus provinces. 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 possible. The incident did not prompt any tsunami advisories.

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 in coastal areas 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.