A magnitude 6.9 earthquake has been reported off the coast of Papua New Guinea's New Britain island, but there were no immediate reports of damage, said residents in nearby towns.
The undersea quake struck in a narrow strait between New Britain's south coast and the north coast of Papua New Guinea's main island, the U.S. Geological Survey said, according to Reuters.
A magnitude 6 earthquake can cause severe damage.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said there was no tsunami threat.
The North and South Bismarck plates, the Manus Plate and the Woodlark Plat and the Solomon Sea Plate surround Papua New Guinea, according to the USGS.
Papua New Guinea is located within the so-called Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific Ocean basin where there are frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off Bougainville Island in April. There were no reports of damage or unusual wave activity along the coast.
On Nov. 16, 2000 a magnitude 8.0 earthquake killed two people, and on Sept. 8, 2002, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed four people, according to the USGS.
Al Jazeera with Reuters
Rare earthquakes have low magnitudes, giving little warning to coastal residents, but result in dangerous waves
At least six deaths reported; 6-foot tsunami followed shallow Pacific temblor
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