6.9-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Papua New Guinea Coast: USGS

AFP/APP

Sydney: A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea’s New Britain Island early Saturday morning, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

The shallow quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles) and was expected to generate tsunami waves ranging from one to three meters, according to an advisory issued by the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Smaller waves—less than 0.3 meters—were also forecast for some coastal areas of the neighboring Solomon Islands.

The earthquake struck at 6:04 am local time (2004 GMT) and was centered approximately 194 kilometers (120 miles) southeast of Kimbe, the nearest major town.

Roughly 30 minutes later, a smaller aftershock with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 was recorded in nearly the same location, according to the USGS.

Papua New Guinea lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active zone known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. While major quakes in the region often occur in remote, sparsely populated areas and rarely cause extensive damage, they can trigger dangerous landslides and tsunamis.

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely. No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been received.