Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-6.4 earthquake occurs on Bougainville Island 06:13 Sept. 2

A magnitude-6.4 earthquake occurred on Bougainville Island at around 06:13 on Sept. 2. The epicenter was about 57.0 km (35 mi) south of Panguna, Papua New Guinea. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 49 km (30 miles), and moderate-to-strong shaking was probably felt in areas near the epicenter on Bougainville Island, and light-moderate shaking was likely felt in the western Solomon Islands. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, damage and casualties are possible, particularly in areas near the epicenter. 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.