Strong Earthquake of 6.6 Magnitude Strikes Near Lae, Papua New Guinea

LAE — A powerful 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Lae, the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea, on Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers and was felt strongly in the region.

Mildred Ongige, a police official in Lae, described the tremor as “very huge” during a phone call with Reuters. “It was a few minutes ago so we have no further details of damage but we are concerned,” she said. Despite the intensity, there were no immediate reports of local damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that no tsunami warning was issued following the quake.

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According to the USGS, the earthquake’s epicentre was located approximately 26 kilometers (about 16 miles) from Lae, a city in the Morobe province with a population of over 76,000. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) initially recorded the quake at a magnitude of 6.8, but later downgraded it to 6.6.

Papua New Guinea is situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a highly seismic zone where frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. The country has a history of destructive quakes. In March last year, a 6.7-magnitude quake struck the northern East Sepik province, resulting in the deaths of three people and the destruction of over 1,000 homes.

Authorities in Lae and surrounding areas remain on alert as assessments continue.