17 Oct 2006

PNG's New Britain area hit by 6.9 earthquake

4:03 pm on 17 October 2006

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake has struck the New Britain region of Papua New Guinea.

The earthquake hit at 11:25 a.m. PNG time about 230 kilometers southwest of Rabaul.

The U.S. West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre has issued an alert warning of the possibility of a local tsunami.

A short time ago, PNG national disaster officials said they had not received any reports of damage or injuries.