Environmental

Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake Strikes New Britain Region, Papua New Guinea


Shakemap

New Britain Region, Papua New Guinea-(ENEWSPF)- The United States Geological Survey is reporting that a 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck the New Britain Region of Papua New Guinea today at 7:03:36 CDT (Chicago). The event data, which has been reviewed by a seismologist, places the epicenter at a depth of 21.5 km (13.4 miles).

The quake rumbled 115 km (71 miles) ESE of Kimbe, New Britain, PNG; 173 km (107 miles) E of Kandrian, New Britain, PNG; 577 km (358 miles) NE of PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea; and 2389 km (1484 miles) N of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued the following statement:

No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data.

However – earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within a hundred kilometers of the earthquake epicenter. Authorities in the region of the epicenter should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action.


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