Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-6.4 offshore earthquake occurs near New Ireland Province at around 08:20 PGT Oct. 14

Event

A magnitude-6.4 offshore earthquake occurred near Papua New Guinea's New Ireland Province at around 08:20 PGT Oct. 14. The epicenter was about 151 km (93 miles) east-southeast of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 71 km (44 miles), and light-to-moderate shaking was probably felt in parts of Papua New Guinea's New Ireland Province, East New Britain Province, and Bougainville Region. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, damage is possible in areas where shaking occurred. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The temblor did not immediately trigger a tsunami warning; however, officials may update tsunami assessments over the coming hours.

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 in areas where shaking occurred.

This is a developing situation; additional information will be issued as warranted.

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.

Out of an abundance of caution, consider moving away from low-lying coastal areas until local authorities determine that no local tsunami threat exists.