News Digest

Small tsunami generated in Pacific after earthquake

A powerful earthquake rattled the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea on Monday, generating a small tsunami and frightening locals near the epicenter, but prompting no reports of damage or injuries. A tsunami of half a metre was measured in the harbor of Rabaul, a town near the epicenter of the magnitude-7.7 earthquake, said Martin Mose, acting director for Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster Center. The quake struck at a depth of 65 kilometres, about 50 kilometres southeast of the town of Kokopo, near Rabaul, in northeastern Papua New Guinea, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The situation seems to be under control at this stage.

Martin Mose, acting director for Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster Center

The quake caused strong shaking and knocked items off shelves in Kokopo, but had not prompted any immediate reports of damage, said Chris McKee, assistant director of the Geophysical Observatory in Port Moresby. A few people in the capital reported feeling the quake as well, he said. The tremors, which lasted for about 5 minutes, were frightening in their intensity.