Samoa: Magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurs offshore from Lotofaga at around 09:26 July 28

Event

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurred offshore of Samoa at around 09:26 July 28. The epicenter was about 50 km (16 miles) south-southwest of Lotofaga, Upolu Island. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 39 km (24 miles), and shaking was probably felt throughout the Samoan archipelago as well as that of neighboring American Samoa. 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. 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.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. 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.