Solomon Islands: Magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurs southwest of the Santa Cruz Islands Nov. 20

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea to the southwest of the Santa Cruz Islands at around 20:26 Nov. 20. The epicenter was about 155 km (96 miles) south of Lata, Temotu Province. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout the Santa Cruz Islands and the far northern islands of Vanuatu. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake, and 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.