Magnitude 6.5 earthquake hits Papua New Guinea

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the northern coast of Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, the United States Institute of Geophysics (USGS) said.

The earthquake struck twenty kilometers off the north coast at an estimated depth of twelve kilometers near the town of Wewak at 8:46 a.m. local time (21:46 GMT).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a tsunami.

On October 7th, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 shook the northeast of the country without causing any deaths or damage.

Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which lies on the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.

Earthquakes occur frequently there, but rarely cause significant damage. Outside major cities, most areas of Papua New Guinea are sparsely populated and buildings are generally made of wood.