April 5, (V7N) – A tsunami warning for Papua New Guinea has been lifted after a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck offshore near New Britain Island early Saturday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake occurred at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometers (6 miles), approximately 194 km (120 miles) east of the town of Kimbe. While the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued an alert for waves up to 3 meters, it later rescinded the warning after assessing the situation.

No immediate reports of damage have emerged from the affected region, which is home to more than 500,000 residents. Smaller tsunami alerts for neighboring Solomon Islands were also canceled.

Papua New Guinea, situated along the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire," regularly experiences strong earthquakes and volcanic activity. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology confirmed there was no tsunami threat to Australia or New Zealand following the event.

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