On Saturday, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Papua New Guinea. The powerful quake has rocked the area and while there were no reports of injuries or damage to the area, a tsunami warning has been issued.
Tsunami warning issued after earthquake off Papua New Guinea. https://t.co/sWbGJYp9NN
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) December 17, 2016
7.9 magnitude #earthquake was recorded off the coast of Papua New Guinea this morning with possible tsunami threat: https://t.co/wLPLf8exhQ pic.twitter.com/AIuJzMjgVX
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) December 17, 2016
The quake occurred Saturday night, 29 miles east of Taron in Papua New Guinea, the Los Angeles Times reported. The U.S. Geological Survey announced the quake had originally been declared a 8 magnitude one but was later downgraded. And the Times reported the quake was 61 miles deep. Generally, the deeper an earthquake is, the less damage it will inflict.
Despite the magnitude being downgraded, the area is still facing a tsunami threat. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, tsunami waves could reach between 3 to 9 feet high along the coast of Papua New Guinea. Other areas, such as the Solomon Islands, could see waves less than a foot high. CNN reported tsunami waves could also hit the coasts of other countries including Pohnpei, Chuuk, Indonesia, Nauru, Kosrae, and Vanuatu.
Earthquakes in this area of the world are fairly common with magnitudes of varying levels occurring. Earlier this month, a 7.8-magnitude quake hit the area, not far from the Solomon Islands.
(Via Los Angeles Times & CNN)