Kavieng, Papua New Guinea — A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck in the waters off Papua New Guinea on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

What happened:

The quake hit at 4:04 PM Central Time on Thursday, November 12, which was 8:04 AM Friday morning local time in Papua New Guinea. The USGS placed the epicenter about 148 kilometers, roughly 92 miles, northwest of Kavieng, at a depth of 10 kilometers, about 6 miles. The USGS estimates the shaking near the epicenter was strong, and it has rated this a green alert, meaning little to no damage is expected.

Impacts:

The earthquake struck offshore, well away from the nearest towns, which limits the damage it can do. No tsunami is expected from this quake, the USGS reports. No damage reports have come in so far, and no one has yet filed a report of feeling the shaking, which is common for a quake this far offshore in a remote stretch of ocean.

What to do:

If you are in the region and feel shaking, drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy table and hold on until the shaking stops. Stay clear of windows, heavy furniture and anything that could fall. Check your home for damage, gas leaks and broken power lines before going back inside. Aftershocks are possible in the hours and days ahead, so stay alert.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), November 12, 2026.