Philippine Sea: A magnitude-5.2 offshore earthquake occurs in the Philippine Sea south of the Sakishima Islands at around 19:25 Jan. 30

Event

A magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea south of Japan's Sakishima Islands at around 19:25 JST Jan. 30. The epicenter was about 126 km (78 miles) south-southwest of Ishigaki, Japan. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 5 km (3 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout parts of the Sakishima Islands and the eastern coast of Taiwan. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light 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.