A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at a depth of 51 kilometers (31.6 miles), about 123.2 kilometers from the nearest town, Kokopo.
The Papua New Guinea National Disaster Centre reported that it was assessing any potential damage from the tremor.
Vernon Gash, a hotel receptionist in Kokopo, described the earthquake as “a bit intense” but said it lasted less than a minute. “We’re used to it, it happens all the time,” he added, noting that there was no damage to the hotel.
No tsunami warnings were issued following the quake.
Earthquakes are frequent in Papua New Guinea, which lies along the “Ring of Fire”—a region known for its high seismic and volcanic activity stretching across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. While quakes rarely cause major damage in the region’s sparsely populated areas, they can trigger landslides and other hazards.