Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurs offshore of New Ireland Province, east of Kokopo, Nov. 17

Event

A magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurred in the Solomon Sea, off the coast of Papua New Guinea's New Ireland Province, at around 18:39 Nov. 17. The epicenter was about 142 km (88 miles) east of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 97 km (60 miles), and light-to-moderate shaking probably occurred in parts of East New Britain and New Ireland provinces and northern Bougainville Autonomous Region. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. Authorities have no issued 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 in coastal areas of eastern New Ireland Province near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. 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.