Indonesia: A magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurs in Arafura Sea at around 07:37 WIT April 30

Event

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurred in the Arafura Sea off of Indonesia's West Papua Province at around 07:37 WIT April 30. The epicenter was approximately 146 km (91 miles) east-northeast of Tual. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and weak-to-light shaking was probably felt throughout West Papua and the surrounding regions. 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.