Indonesia: Magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurs off the north coast of Papua Province at around 21:16 Jan. 4

Event

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurred off the north coast of Papua Province, Indonesia, at around 21:16 WIT Jan. 4. The epicenter was about 7 km (4 miles) east-northeast of Jayapura. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 25 km (16 miles), and moderate-to-light shaking was probably felt near the epicenter, as well as light shaking across parts of eastern Papua Province in Indonesia and northern and central Sandaun Province in Papua New Guinea. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted 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 near the earthquake's epicenter.

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.