Papua New Guinea: A magnitude-5.2 offshore earthquake occurs in Bismarck Sea at around 04:49 March 27

A magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurred near northern Papua New Guinea at around 04:49 March 27. The epicenter was approximately 13 km (8 miles) southeast of Madang. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 68 km (42 miles), and weak shaking was probably felt in the northern parts of the country. 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 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.