RAI COAST DISTRICT, Madang Province — A 5.4 magnitude quake struck near Kainantu on Sunday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

A tremor jolted the area at 12:45 UTC (22:45 local time). The earthquake’s epicenter was roughly 68 km north-northeast of Kainantu and occurred at a depth of 116 km.

Did you feel it?

If you felt the quake, you can share your observations using the USGS Felt Report form. 5 people have submitted responses through the agency’s online form, indicating they felt the tremor.

Impact and estimated losses

The USGS categorized this as a Green Alert, which means there is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses.

Structure information summary

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) and unreinforced brick masonry construction.

Quakes last week

During the past week, there have been three earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or above centered nearby. The biggest, a 6.4 magnitude quake, was registered in the same region prior to this quake.

The three largest earthquakes nearby in the last week:

• 6.4, north-northeast of Kainantu on Sept. 20
• 5.0, northwest of Lae on Sept. 14
• 4.6, southeast of Madang on Sept. 16

Area struck by 6.3 quake in 1993
The area has experienced significant seismic activity in the past. On Oct. 15, 1993, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck northeast of Kainantu in Rai Coast District, at a depth of 16.8 miles.

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey