25 Mar 2022 | 10:39 PM UTC
Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs near East New Britain Province at around 07:40 PGT March 26
Magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurs off of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, at 07:40 PGT March 26. No immediate reports of damage or injuries.
Event
A magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurred near Papua New Guinea's East New Britain Province at around 07:40 PGT March 26. The epicenter was about 140 km (87 miles) east-southeast of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 35 km (21 miles), and light shaking may have been felt in parts of New Britain near the epicenter. 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. 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
Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.
