Earthquake in Papua New Guinea

7.7 earthquake strikes near Papua New Guinea – USGS

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea, with the epicenter located 54 kilometers southeast of Kokopo, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has warned that “hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 1,000 km (620 miles) of the earthquake epicenter along the coasts of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.” It added that no major destructive tsunami was expected in the Pacific. Tsunami waves reaching 1-3 meters (3-9 feet) above the tide level are possible in Papua New Guinea, the center said. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera quoted a witness in the township of Rabaul as saying that “the earthquake shook for about five minutes” but caused no visible damage to buildings. Elsewhere, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

http://rt.com/news/line/2015-03-30/#84981

UPDATE: The threat of a tsunami has largely passed after a magnitude-7.5 earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea, official monitors say