Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurs in the Bismark Sea at around 10:02 PGT May 10

Event

A magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurred in the Bismarck Sea, north of Papua New Guinea, at around 10:02 PGT May 10. The epicenter was about 198 km (123 miles) north of Madang, Papua New Guinea. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and light shaking may have been felt in parts of northern Papua New Guinea. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in impacted areas 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 where shaking occurred.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.