Kavieng, Papua New Guinea — A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck in the sea northwest of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea, on Friday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

What happened:

The quake hit at 5:30 PM Central Time on Friday, November 13, which was 9:30 AM Saturday morning local time in Papua New Guinea. The Geological Survey placed the epicenter about 153 kilometers, roughly 95 miles, northwest of Kavieng, at a depth of about 10 kilometers, or about 6 miles, below the surface.

Impacts:

The earthquake struck offshore in the waters of the Bismarck Sea northwest of New Ireland island. The Geological Survey has no felt reports listed for this quake so far, and it issued no tsunami warning. No damage reports have come in through the Geological Survey.

What to do:

If you feel shaking, drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy table or desk, and hold on until the shaking stops. Stay away from windows and anything that could fall. Once the shaking stops, check for hazards like gas leaks, damaged wiring, and broken glass before moving around. Be ready for aftershocks, which can follow a quake of this size.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), November 13, 2026.