SYDNEY: A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea on Tuesday with tsunami waves possible along the coast, seismologists said, although local residents said there was no major damage and sea levels were the same.
The quake struck 133 kilometres (83 miles) south-southwest of the town of Kokopo in the New Britain region at a depth of 63 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said, and was followed by a 5.9 magnitude aftershock.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said "hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 300 kilometres of the earthquake epicentre" before later advising that "tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1.0 metres above the tide level are possible".
Mathew Moihoi, a seismologist at the PNG Geophysical Observatory, said the latest quake followed a series of seismic activity in the region in recent weeks but there had been no reports of major damage to buildings or infrastructure.
"Some things fell off the shelves," he told AFP, adding that authorities were "keeping our fingers crossed" there would be no serious damage or injuries or destructive waves.
Zenia Lopez, a worker at the Kokopo Village Resort, said she ran outside when the quake struck, but there was no damage.
"It was frightening, we all ran outside, but the place is okay, there is no damage," she said.
"We are still waiting to hear when the tsunami warning is lifted, but there are no signs of any unusual waves so far."
Tsunami waves can sometimes appear hours after an earthquake has occurred.
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