A
tsunami warning has been issued following a powerful earthquake of 7.7
magnitude in the South-Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea. The warning
stretches from the Pacific to far north till Russia.According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at a depth of 65 kilometers (40 miles), about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of the town of Kokopo in northeastern Papua New Guinea.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous tsunami waves could hit coasts located within 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of Kokopo, with waves between 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) possible for Papua New Guinea.
Tsunami waves as high as 0.3 meters (1 foot) could hit other pacific island nations of Russia, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hawaii, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Antarctica. The Japan Meteorological Agency has however dismissed all risk from tsunami.
Signs of the rising ocean water have already been sighted in Rabaul, where the parking lot of a shopping centre near the beach was flooded. But no further damage was reported.
The tremors lasted for 5 minutes but there were no reports of injury or damage. No one in the region saw any tsunami waves. The situation seems well under control at this point.
