Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurs in Solomon Sea, near Shortland Island, at 07:13 Jan. 23

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in the Solomon Sea, near Shortland Island at around 07:13 Jan. 23. The epicenter was about 108 km (67 miles) south-southeast of Panguna, Papua New Guinea. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 117 km (73 miles), and light shaking may have been felt throughout the northwestern Solomon Islands and Bougainville Province, Papua New Guinea. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties because of the earthquake; 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 authorities do not find any damage. 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.