LAE, Papua New Guinea: An earthquake with a magnitude reported between 6.6 and 6.8 struck the eastern New Guinea region in Papua New Guinea on Tuesday.
The earthquake was felt strongly near Lae, the capital of Morobe Province and the country’s second-largest city with a population of over 76,000. The epicentre was registered approximately 19 to 26 km west of the city.
City police official Mildred Ongige described the tremor as “very huge” and expressed concern, though there were no immediate local reports of material damage or casualties following the quake.
According to various seismic agencies, the quake struck at a depth estimated between 10km and 99.4km. No tsunami warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre or the US Tsunami Warning System.
Papua New Guinea is situated on the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire,” a geologically active area known for frequent, powerful earthquakes.
