Papua New Guinea earthquake: 6.9 magnitude quake strikes off coast

No tsunami warning after quake strikes off New Britain island

The 6.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded off the coast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea (USGS)

An 6.9 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea.

The US Geological Survey detected the epicentre near New Britain, Papua New Guinea's largest offshore island, at 4.15pm local time (7.15am BST).

Mathew Moihoi, an official at the Geophysical Observatory in Port Moresby, said there were no immediate reports of damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre did not release a warning following the earthquake.

"Based on all available data, there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake," a notice said.

It came days after another tremor measuring 6.4 hit the same region

Papua New Guinea lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" - a volcanically active region subject to requent earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

In July 1998, two undersea quakes measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale created three tsunamis that killed at least 2,100 people near the town of Aitape.

Additional reporting by AP