6.7 earthquake strikes PNG's New Britain

9:04 pm on 1 May 2015

An earthquake of magnitude 6.7 struck off Papua New Guinea's New Britain Island on Friday evening.

View of Papua New Guinea's Mt Tavurvu from across the Rabaul Harbour.

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. Photo: Alex Smith

The United States Geological Survey says the quake was 128 kilometres south-southwest of Rabaul at a depth of 61 kilometres.

The Pacific Tsunami Centre says there are no tsunami warnings.

However, disaster authorties in PNG say there is a possibility of small, localised tsunamis and people in the northern islands region have been asked to remain alert.

A reporter for the National Broadcasting Corporation in Rabaul says the earthquake was large, but doesn't appear to have caused any significant damage in a region used to large quakes.

A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck in the same area yesterday.

The NBC reporter says a wave caused by that quake damaged a coastal road leading in to Rabaul.