A strong earthquake with 6.2 magnitude on the Richter scale hit off Papua New Guinea’s New Ireland province on Saturday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
The quake had a depth of 72 kilometres (44 miles) and was approximately 115 kilometres southeast of Kokopo, a seaside town in the province.
The effect of the quake was experienced in surrounding areas, although no significant damage was incurred. “The earthquake took around a minute but there was no damage to the area,” explained Emonck Abelis, a receptionist at Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort.
Papua New Guinea happens to be seismically active very often because it is situated on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, a region characterized by high rates of tectonic activity, extending from Southeast Asia through the Pacific Ocean.
Although such quakes are not rare in this region, they can at times trigger hazardous landslides. In this case, however, the tremor happened in a comparatively lightly populated region, reducing the potential for mass destruction.