6.9-magnitude earthquake hits off Papua New Guinea's Bougainville

AFP News | April 19, 2014

A strong 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville Island Saturday but there was no risk of a widespread tsunami, seismologists said.

The quake hit at 0104 GMT and was centred 62 kilometres southwest of the town of Panguna on Bougainville at a depth of 45 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.

In its initial estimate, the USGS said there was a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

According to the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center there was no threat of a destructive widespread tsunami based on historical data.

Geoscience Australia measured the quake at magnitude 7.0 and said it was probably felt within a wide radius, with the potential for localised shaking damage.

“Because it’s such a large event there’s a possibility of damage in that area,” seismologist Emma Mathews told AFP.

“But it’s nothing out of the ordinary for such an earthquake-prone country.”

Mathews said it was the latest in a recent cluster of earthquakes in the Panguna region, with five events recorded in the past week including powerful magnitude 7.6 and 7.5 tremors that triggered a local tsunami alert.

Source:  http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1488646/69-quake-hits-papua-new-guineas-bougainville-usgs