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7.5 magnitude earthquake in Papua New Guinea triggers fears of Tsunami

by IBNS 05 May 2015, 10:11 am

Sydney, May 5 (IBNS) A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked the island nation of Papua New Guinea on Tuesday sounding off a tsunami warning.

Authorities have warned of a the possibility of a tsunami within 300 kilometers of the quake's epicenter.

The quake struck 133 kilometres (83 miles) south-southwest of the town of Kokopo in the New Britain region at a depth of 63 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said, and was followed by a 5.9 magnitude aftershock.

Tuesday's quake was centered in the same area as the two earthquakes that rocked Papua New Guinea last week.

Last week, a 6.8 earthquake hit off Kokopo, with a population of 20,000, after a 6.7 tremor struck off the same area on Thursday. There was no reported damage.