Magnitude 7.9 quake hits off east Papua New Guinea

By Recep Sakar

MELBOURNE, Australia

A magnitude 7.9 earthquake hit off eastern Papua New Guinea on Saturday, and a tsunami threat was issued for nearby areas.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the temblor hit 132.8 kilometers (82.5 miles) east of Kokopo town at a depth of 103.2 km at 8.51 p.m. (1051GMT)

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was a threat of tsunami in nearby parts of the Pacific and some waves had been observed in Papua New Guinea.

It added that there was a possibility of tsunami waves -- some of them hazardous -- reaching one to three meters above tide level along some areas of the country's coasts.

New Zealand's Ministry of Civil Defence has issued an official tsunami warning across the country. The Australian Associated Press quoted a spokeswoman as saying, “at this stage we are advising New Zealanders to stay off the beaches, stay out of the water, not to go sightseeing and to listen to the radio and TV."

Papua New Guinea and New Zealand lie within the Pacific’s "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and cause frequent seismic and volcanic activity.