Powerful Earthquake Rocks Papua New Guinea
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea’s coast, shaking communities and causing widespread fear. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the quake hit at 10km depth near New Britain island’s southern coast. The quake’s epicentre was 194km southeast of Kimbe, a major town in the region.
Figure 1: Epicentre of the Earthquake
No Tsunami, But Panic Among Locals
Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning for parts of Papua New Guinea. However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later cancelled it. The warning had predicted waves of up to three metres, but the ocean remained calm.
Pomio district resident Raphael Sislelrea said:
“People were sleeping when it happened, and they all ran outside. Everyone was scared, but everything is OK.”
Locals noticed unusual activity in the ocean. Aside from fish jumping in the water, Sislelrea said that conditions were calm in the ocean.
Buildings Shake, But No Major Damage
Despite the strong PNG earthquake, there were no reports of structural damage. Many people described feeling the tremor but saw no destruction.
Kimbe resident Barbara Aigilo said:
“We felt it here, but it was a very slight one. It wasn’t big enough to cause damage.”
Similarly, Marolyn Simbiken from Liamo Reef Resort stated:
“We did feel the earthquake here.”
But there isn’t much harm. There was no evacuation and no damage to this location.
Tremors Felt Hundreds of Kilometres Away
The Papua New Guinea earthquake was felt as far as Port Moresby, 620km away. Authorities confirmed tremors also shook Kokopo, the capital of East New Britain Province.
Smaller aftershocks between 4.9 and 5.3 in magnitude followed the main quake, according to the USGS.
Earthquake PNG: A Region Prone to Disasters
Papua New Guinea sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a seismic hotspot where earthquakes and volcanic activity occur frequently.
The island of New Britain, home to over 500,000 people, is no stranger to powerful quakes. Last year, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in East Sepik killed three people and destroyed 1,000 homes.
Australia and Neighbouring Countries Not at Risk
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology confirmed no tsunami threat for Australia. Authorities also ruled out risks for New Zealand and the Solomon Islands.
What’s Next? Monitoring and Preparedness
Experts will continue monitoring the PNG earthquake and its aftershocks. Seismologists warn that future quakes in the region remain a possibility.
With Papua New Guinea on the Ring of Fire, residents must always be prepared for seismic events.
