Magnitude-6.3 quake strikes off Papua New Guinea
by AFP Staff Writers
Port Moresby (AFP) Sept 11, 2024

A magnitude-6.3 earthquake struck in the Bismarck Sea off the coast of Papua New Guinea on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey said.

The shallow quake located far from land produced no tsunami warning or immediate reports of damage.

It was centred about 224 kilometres (139 miles) northeast of the city of Madang, located along the country's northern coast.

Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which sits on top of the seismic "Ring of Fire" -- an arc of intense tectonic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

Although they seldom cause widespread damage in sparsely populated areas, earthquakes can trigger destructive landslides.

In April 2023, at least seven people were killed when a magnitude-7.0 quake hit a jungle area on the Pacific island nation.

Then in September of last year, 10 people were killed when a magnitude-7.6 earthquake levelled hundreds of homes, split roads and caused power outages across the rugged north of the country.

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