A major earthquake measuring 7.3 in magnitude shook parts of Papua New Guinea this morning, but there were no immediate reports of damage.
The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 7.35am Irish time, was off the east coast of New Britain, about 130km east-southeast of Rabaul.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no threat of a Pacific-wide tsunami from the quake, which Geoscience Australia said occurred at a depth of 95 km (60 miles).
However, earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within 100 kilometres of the earthquake epicentre.
Papua New Guinea lies to the east of Indonesia, which bore the brunt of the 9.15 magnitude quake and tsunami on 26 December.
Seismically active, Papua New Guinea also lies on the 'Ring of Fire', a zone of volcanic activity which accounts for 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes.
