Estimated 6.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Coast of Papua New Guinea
source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/07/31/papua.new.guinea.earthquake/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
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By the CNN Wire Staff
July 31, 2011 10:01 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: The Japan Meteorological Agency lifts any tsunami-related warnings or advisories
Earlier, the agency had said "there is a very small possibility" of a tsunami
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and Australia's similar agency reports no such threats
The earthquake hits 81 miles east of Wewak, New Guinea, says the U.S. Geological Survey
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(CNN) -- A preliminary 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Monday morning off the coast of Papua New Guinea, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The quake struck around 9:39 a.m. and was centered 131 kilometers (81 miles) east of Wewak, which is on the northern coast of the Pacific nation, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. Its depth was reported at 16 kilometers (9 miles).
The Japan Meteorological Agency -- which had an identical measure for the quake's strength -- noted on its website that "there is a very small possibility of a destructive local tsunami" as a result. It said any tsunami likely would not be over half a meter (20 inches) high.
"However at some coasts, particularly near the epicenter, high tsunamis may arrive (larger) than our estimation," the agency said on its website.
But within about two hours after the quake struck, the Japanese agency reported there were no such warnings or advisories still in effect.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue any threats or warning, noting on its website that there was no danger of a tsunami striking Hawaii. Similarly, the Australia tsunami warning center said there was no threat to that nation.
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http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/07/update-1-strong-6-8-magnitude-earthquake-r...
Channel 6 News...
UPDATE 1 — Strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake rocks Papua New Guinea
31 July 2011BY: BNO News
WEWAK, PAPUA NEW GUINEA (BNO NEWS) -- A strong earthquake struck off the mainland of Papua New Guinea on late Monday morning, seismologists said. It was not immediately known if there were casualties.
The 6.8-magnitude earthquake at 9.38 a.m. local time (2338 GMT Sunday) was centered about 134 kilometers (83 miles) east of Wewak, the capital of the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. It struck about 16.8 kilometers (10.4 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
While there were no immediate reports about damage or casualties from the region, the USGS estimated that several hundred people may have felt 'very strong' to 'extreme' damage, which could potentially result in heavy damage. The agency further estimated that around 462,000 others may have felt moderate to strong shaking.
However, earthquakes in the mountainous nation of New Papua Guinea do rarely cause damage or casualties as most structures in the region are light and flexible. This allows them to bend, rather than snap when a major earthquake happens.
Because earthquakes below magnitude 7 do usually not generate tsunamis, no tsunami watches or warnings were issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC). It added that there was a small possibility of a local tsunami, a note of caution frequently included in PTWC bulletins.
Papua New Guinea, close to Indonesia, is on the so-called 'Pacific Ring of Fire', an arc of fault lines circling the Pacific Basin that is prone to frequent and large earthquakes. Volcanic eruptions also occur frequently.
In July 1998, a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck just off the north coast of the country's island of New Guinea, causing a landslide which resulted in a local tsunami. The disaster left at least 2,183 people killed and thousands injured.
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http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hkpRnC-gifXeMLAjdBy9SjPxYe_w?...
AFP...
Papua New Guinea rattled by 6.8 quake
Photo: The US Geological Survey has said a quake in Papua New Guinea occurred at a depth of 16 kilometres (AFP/File, Frederick Florin)
(AFP) – 6 hours ago
SYDNEY — The Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea was jolted by a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake Monday, prompting a minor tsunami warning, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at a depth of 16 kilometres (10 miles), some 131 km (81 miles) east of Wewak and 706 kilometres north of the capital Port Moresby.
"No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
"However, earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within a hundred kilometers of the earthquake epicentre.
"Authorities in the region of the epicentre should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action."
GeoScience Australia measured the quake at 6.6 and said it would have been felt more than 800 kilometres (496 miles) away, but damage would only have been caused within a radius of 67 kilometres from the epicentre.
The PNG Geophysical Observatory said that residents of the coastal town of Wewak, home to about 18,000 people, would have been severely shaken, but early reports suggested no major damage or injuries.
"Preliminary reports we are receving indicate that no real life-threatening damage and it is not an event where a tsunami is thought to be generated," spokesman Lawrence Anton told AFP.
"This zone marks the boundary between two plates and so the quake was shallow... this was at a shallow depth and not too far from Wewak so it would have been felt strongly there.
"The way the quake occured is not the same as those that can generate tsunamis -- it was more of a horizontal plate movement, not a vertical one."
Papua New Guinea, which is mired in poverty despite rich mineral deposits, sits on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.
A giant tsunami in 1997, caused by an undersea earthquake or a landslide, killed more than 3,500 people near Aitapi, on the country's northwest coast.
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