Asia-Pacific

M6.6 quake hits Papua New Guinea

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-16 10:11

SYDNEY - An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale jolted New Britain region, Papua New Guinea at 0003 GMT on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The epicenter, with a depth of 21.50 km, was initially determined to be at 5.9944 degrees south latitude and 151.0950 degrees east longitude.

The quake struck 175 km east of Kandrian on New Britain and 577 km northeast of the capital Port Moresby.

An official at Geoscience Australia that it was not likely to have caused any damage.

Papua New Guinea, which is mired in poverty despite rich mineral deposits, sits on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.