A strong earthquake of 6.9 has hit the coast of Papua New Guinea, according to the United States Geological Service (USGS).
The earthquake’s tremors felt early on Saturday morning, around 6:04 am local time, about 175 kilometers southeast of Kimbe, in the province of Western New Brittany.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 49 kilometers below the surface.
Experts say that it is likely that the shake has felt widely in the nearby areas, with the potential of light to moderate damage. Kimbe residents, home of almost 19,000 people, may have experienced notable tremors.
The Tsunami EE Warning Center. UU. Issued a Tsunami warning. The authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
There have been variable evaluations of the earthquake force. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) reported it as the 7.1 magnitude, while the National Seismic Network of France registered it in 6.6. German and American scientific institutions also reported similar events with slightly different magnitudes.
Such differences are not unusual in the early hours after an earthquake, since seismologists continue to analyze the data.
Immediate reports of important injuries or damages have not been confirmed, but updates are expected as more details enter.
The situation is still being developed, and the authorities urge people in coastal areas to remain alert and follow the official orientation.
