Cape Verde: A magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurs off the southwest coast of Santo Antao, Cape Verde, at around 03:16 CVT Jan. 26

Event

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurred off the southwest coast Cape Verde's Santo Antao island at around 03:16 CVT Jan. 26. The epicenter was about 73 km (45 miles) southwest of Porto Novo. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout Cape Verde. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, minor damage to infrastructure is possible in areas close to the epicenter. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light-to-moderate 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. 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.