Papua New Guinea: No casualties or significant damage reported after magnitude-6.4 offshore earthquake occurs near New Ireland Province at 08:20 PGT Oct. 14 /update 1

Event

No significant damage or casualties were immediately reported after 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.

It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The earthquake did not prompt the US Tsunami Warning System to issue a tsunami warning, advisory, watch, or threat.

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.

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.