Papua New Guinea: Magnitude-5.8 earthquake occurs in Morobe Province at approximately 04:28 PGT July 29

Event

A magnitude-5.8 earthquake occurred in Papua New Guinea's Morobe Province at 04:28 PGT July 29. The epicenter was about 21 km (13 mi) northeast of Bulolo. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), with severe shaking being reported in the immediate vicinity of the epicenter and moderate-to-strong shaking experienced in the city of Lae. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, light to moderate damage is possible. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas.

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.