New Caledonia: Magnitude-6.4 offshore earthquake occurs southeast of the Loyalty Islands at around 02:37 NCT May 27

Event

A magnitude-6.4 earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean, southeast of New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands, at around 02:37 NCT May 27. The epicenter was about 453 km (281 miles) east-southeast of Tadine, New Caledonia. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and light shaking may have affected parts of New Caledonia, especially the Loyalty Islands. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties due to 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 did not prompt 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 where shaking occurred.

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.