Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck off the coast of East New Britain early Thursday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

What happened: The quake hit at 12:23 AM Central Time (10:23 PM local time), centered about 86 kilometers south of Kokopo at a depth of roughly 57 kilometers. A depth like that — moderate, not shallow — typically spreads shaking over a wider area but with less violent surface jolting than a shallow quake.

Impacts: Shaking was likely felt in Kokopo and surrounding communities on East New Britain island. No tsunami alert or damage reports were available from the USGS at the time of this report. Quakes of this size in this region are closely watched because Papua New Guinea sits on an active seismic zone.

What to do:

- Drop, cover, and hold on during shaking; stay clear of windows and heavy furniture.

- After the shaking stops, check for gas leaks, broken glass, and structural damage before re-entering buildings.

- Expect aftershocks — smaller tremors can follow for hours or days.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 22, 2026.