Earthquake measuring 6.3-magnitude hits Papua New Guinea

A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea on Saturday, US seismologists said, but there was no tsunami warning or immediate reports of damage.

The quake struck at 9:23 pm local time at a depth of 67 km, about 175 km from the New Britain town of Rabaul, the US Geological Survey said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake did not pose a tsunami risk.

The Pacific nation was hit by a 7.5-magnitude quake on February 26 that buried homes and triggered landslides in its highlands region, killing at least 125 people.

PNG sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.

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Its mountainous and remote terrain means it often takes several days for information about damage from quakes to reach officials and aid agencies.