One of the country that was located within the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” Papua New Guinea was struck by a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake according to United States Geological Survey. The major quake was 40 km (25 miles) deep, with its epicenter located at 55 km (34 miles) southeast of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea.
Although there were no immediate reports of damages or injuries, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center earlier warned that hazardous tsunami waves are possible, the agency, however did not expect a destructive tsunami.
The powerful earthquake generated a tsunami of half a meter (1.5 ft) was measured in the harbor of Rabaul, a town near the epicenter of the magnitude 7.7 earthquake.
According to some residents of Rabaul, they noticed the sea level rose slightly, causing ocean water to flood the parking lot of a shopping center near the beach, said Mika Tuvi, an employee at the Rabaul Hotel.
Before the small tsunami generated, the employee noted that when the quake struck, guests and workers at the Rabaul Hotel fled outside, fearing the building would collapse which according to Mika Tuvi, the tremors lasted for about 5 minutes but the hotel stood with the shaking.
The officials of Port Moresby, they were working to contact their counterparts in the outer provinces, but hours after the quake, there are no reports of damage or injuries said the National Disaster Center of Papua New Guinea.
