Strong earthquake strikes off the coast of Papua New Guinea

SYDNEY - officials issued a local tsunami alert after a strong earthquake struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea, Monday. There was no immediate report of damage or injuries.

The 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit 76 miles (122 km) West of Arawa, the capital of the province of Bougainville, at a depth of 27 miles (43), said the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that no there was no threat of a destructive, widespread tsunami. But the Agency indicated earthquakes of this size can sometimes generate tsunamis along the coasts in the 60 miles (100 km) from the epicentre.

Bill Yomba, an official from the Centre of the Papua New Guinea National of the disaster, said no there was no report of any tsunami hitting the coast and officials had not received all the reports of injuries or damage.

Earthquakes of this magnitude are relatively common in Papua New Guinea. The country is on the "ring of fire" - an arc of earthquake and volcanic areas that extends around the Pacific region and produce about 90 percent of the earthquakes of the world.