Papua New Guinea Quake Sparks Tsunami Warning

A tsunami warning was triggered after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean.

The powerful quake hit late on Saturday at a depth of 19 miles (31km) and was located 47 miles (75km) southwest of the town of Panguna on Bougainville Island.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a warning for Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands but this was later cancelled.

And the centre said there was no threat to neighbouring Australia or across the Pacific Ocean.

At least six strong tremors have hit near Bougainville in the past week, including a magnitude 7.3 on April 11.

But there have been no reports of major damage.

"Certainly it has been very active, more active than usual," said Jonathan Bathgate, a seismologist at Geoscience Australia.

"(The spate of earthquakes) is relieving some pressure on this faultline, but we can't rule out another large earthquake."

Quakes are common in Papua New Guinea which lies on the "Ring of Fire" - an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim.