Tsunami Warning After Papua New Guinea Earthquake

Official monitors have issued a Pacific Ocean tsunami warning after an earthquake struck Papua New Guinea Monday morning. At around 9:48 a.m. local time, the 7.7-magnitude quake hit a depth of around 66 kilometers (41 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Its epicenter was 54 kilometers (34 miles) southeast of the coastal city Kokopo, Papua New Guinea.

There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected. But hazardous waves could hit coasts located within 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of Kokopo, and waves between 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) are possible for the island country and nearby Solomon Islands. The center issued this warning to potentially affected people:

Persons located in threatened coastal areas should stay alert for information and follow instructions from national and local authorities.

Smaller waves of less than 1 foot could hit other Pacific Ocean countries, such as Russia, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hawaii, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Antarctica. The Japan Meteorological Agency said Japan, which was the site of a deadly 9.0-earthquake and tsunami in 2011, was not at risk for a tsunami from Monday's quake.