The Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea was rattled by a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake Monday, but seismologists said the tremor was unlikely to have caused major damage in the remote area. Geoscience Australia measured the quake at magnitude 6.3 and said it occurred at a depth of 39 kilometres (24 miles) in the New Ireland region known for earthquake and volcanic activity. "There would have been plenty of shaking there and there could have been some damage pretty close by, but these northern islands are pretty sparsely populated," Geoscience Australia seismologist Hugh Glanville said. "Being under 6.5, we don't issue tsunami warnings." The United States Geological Survey put the quake at 6.2 magnitude and said it struck about 201 kilometres (124 miles) northwest of New Britain's township of Rabaul and 794 kilometres (492 miles) from national capital Port Moresby. "There could have been some damage very close by, but no major damage to large population centres," Glanville added. Papua New Guinea, which is mired in poverty despite rich mineral deposits, sits on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates. A giant tsunami in 1997, caused by an undersea earthquake or a landslide, killed more than 3,500 people near Aitapi, on the country's northwest coast.
GMT 13:29 2018 Monday ,01 January
Serbia launches probe after toxic waste dumped near BelgradeGMT 19:03 2017 Thursday ,28 December
Pregnant elephant 'poisoned' in Indonesian palm plantationGMT 16:26 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Nepal's two last known dancing bears rescued: officialsGMT 10:51 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Florida orange industry hit by hurricane, diseaseGMT 09:09 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Modern-day amber 'Klondikes' thrive in troubled UkraineGMT 19:23 2017 Saturday ,23 December
Indonesian pangolin faces extinction due to traffickingGMT 11:37 2017 Friday ,22 December
Global warming may boost asylum-seekers in Europe: studyGMT 07:32 2017 Friday ,22 December
Modern-day Mowgli: Indian toddler forges bond with monkeysMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor