6.9 Earthquake Hits Papua New Guinea, Tsunami Alert Lifted

Photo: AFP

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 shook the area near New Britain Island in Papua New Guinea on April 5 (local time), as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The earthquake happened around 10 a.m. local time, about 174 kilometers east of the town of Kimbe, which is on New Britain Island. The quake started under the ocean at a depth of 10 kilometers, which is considered shallow. Shallow earthquakes usually cause stronger shaking near the surface.

At first, the USGS said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2, but they later changed it to 6.9 after a detailed review.

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Right after the quake, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a tsunami warning for nearby areas. However, the warning was later cancelled. So far, no damage or injuries have been reported by local officials.

New Britain Island has a population of around 500,000 people. Many of them may have felt the shaking, but there is no information yet about any serious problems caused by the earthquake.

Papua New Guinea lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a zone known for many earthquakes and volcanoes. Earthquakes happen often in this region because of the movement of tectonic plates under the Earth’s surface.

Authorities are keeping an eye on the situation in case of any aftershocks or new developments.