A magnitude 6.6 earthquake has struck northern Papua New Guinea, according to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor occurred on Tuesday, with its epicenter located about 26 kilometers west of Lae, the coastal capital of Morobe Province and the country’s second-largest city.
The USGS initially reported the earthquake at 6.7 magnitude, later revising it downward to 6.6. The seismic event originated at a depth of approximately 99 kilometers, which experts say helped reduce surface-level damage despite the quake’s substantial strength. Residents in Lae, home to around 76,000 people, experienced the most pronounced shaking.
Preliminary assessments indicate no immediate casualties or structural damage, and monitoring agencies continue to observe the area for aftershocks. Both Australian and Philippine authorities confirmed that the earthquake poses no tsunami threat to their coastal regions, providing reassurance across the Pacific basin.
Papua New Guinea sits atop the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most geologically active regions, responsible for around 90% of global earthquakes. The area’s complex tectonic boundaries between the Pacific and Indo-Australian plates often generate powerful seismic events. However, experts note that deep-focus earthquakes, like this one, generally produce less surface destruction than shallower quakes of similar magnitude.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, and residents have been advised to stay alert for updates from the USGS and local disaster management agencies.
