A strong earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude has struck near Lae, the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed on Tuesday.
The tremor’s epicentre was about 26 kilometres from Lae in Morobe province, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami alert had been issued.
A city police officer, Mildred Ongige, said by phone that a “very huge earthquake was felt across the area.” She added, “It was a few minutes ago so we have no further details of damage, but we are concerned.”
As of the time of reporting, there were no confirmed casualties or major damage. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) — which first reported the tremor as 6.8 magnitude — later revised it down to 6.6.
Lae, a bustling industrial and port city with over 76,000 residents, is a key hub in Papua New Guinea’s economy. The country sits on the Pacific’s Ring of Fire, an area known for frequent and sometimes devastating earthquakes.
In March last year, a 6.7-magnitude quake struck East Sepik province, killing three people and destroying more than 1,000 homes. It reminded residents of the region’s deep vulnerability to natural disasters.
Authorities say they are monitoring Lae for aftershocks and possible structural damage. Emergency teams have been placed on alert as assessments continue.
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