Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurs in Bougainville Province at around 12:39 April 1

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurred in Bougainville Province, Papua New Guinea, at around 12:39 April 1. The epicenter was about 42 km (26 miles) west-northwest of Panguna, Papua New Guinea. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 171 km (106 miles), and light shaking was probably felt in Bougainville Province in Papua New Guinea and far western Solomon Islands. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties; however, 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.

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.