Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-5.2 earthquake strikes near Kokopo Jan. 25

Event

A magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurred in East New Britain Province at around 1753 Jan. 25. The epicenter was about 24 km (15 miles) south-southwest of Kokopo. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 99 km (61 miles) and may have triggered moderate shaking near the epicenter; weak-to-light shaking probably occurred in parts of eastern New Britain, New Ireland, and Lihir islands. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties; however, it could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible.

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 they do not find damage. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.