Papua New Guinea earthquake: Powerful 6.3 tremor strikes off coast near Arawa

Underwater tremor hit near the island of Bougainville at 3:19am local time

A handout photo showing the epicentre of the quake near the island of Bougainville (EPA)

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 has struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea.

The underwater tremor occurred at 3.19am local time at a depth of about 30km near Arawa near the island of Bougainville.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre has not issued a tsunami threat.

The impact of the quake was not immediately known.

Quakes are common in the country which forms part of the "Ring of fire" - the term given for the hotspots of seismic activity due to friction between shifting tectonic plates.