Tsunami warning issued for parts of Pacific after earthquake off Papua New Guinea

The tsunami warning center said tsunami waves reaching 3 to 10 feet were possible for Papua New Guinea's coastlines

A handout picture released by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows a shakemap of the region in Papua New Guinea (PNG) where a 7.5 to 7.6 magnitude earthquake occurred on 30 March 2015 (EPA)

A powerful earthquake struck near the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea on Monday, prompting officials to warn that hazardous tsunami waves could affect some coastlines in the Pacific.

The magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Monday at a depth of 40 miles, about 30 miles southeast of the town of Kokopo in northeastern Papua New Guinea, the US Geological Survey said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous tsunami waves were possible for coasts located within 620 miles of Kokopo. That includes Papua New Guinea and the nearby Solomon Islands.

The tsunami warning center said tsunami waves reaching 3 to 10 feet were possible for Papua New Guinea's coastlines.

Tsunami waves of less than 1 foot could hit other Pacific island nations, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Hawaii.

AP