Powerful quake hits Papua New Guinea, tsunami alert issued
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A powerful earthquake has stuck Papua New Guinea, triggering a tsunami alert for the country and for the nearby Solomon Islands.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured magnitude 7.5 and was centered 45 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of Kokopo. It said it struck at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).
Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage on the Earth’s surface, but the USGS estimated that damage and injuries would be low because of the sparse population.
Papua New Guinea is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, to the east of Indonesia.
It sits on the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire,” the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic activity occur.
Latest posts by Associated Press (see all)
- Love it: Husband-wife win silvers in stunning night at track - October 4, 2019
- Suspect in Norway mosque attack smirks in court appearance - August 12, 2019
- Bolton says US ready to negotiate post-Brexit trade pact - August 12, 2019