Monday 30 March 2015

Tsunami Warning After Papua New Guinea Quake

Vast swathes of the Pacific have been put on high alert for "hazardous" tsunami waves after a powerful earthquake in Papua New Guinea.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre warned that waves measuring up to 10ft (3m) could hit Papua New Guinea in the coming hours.
It said areas located within 620 miles (1,000km) of the epicentre of the quake were at risk.
Coasts as far away as Russia, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hawaii, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Antarctica may also be affected, it said.
However, the Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake posed no tsunami risk to Japan.
Martin Mose, acting director for Papua New Guinea's National Disaster Centre, said no tsunami waves have been spotted so far.
According to the US Geological Survey, the quake hit at a depth of 65km, some 54km southeast of the town of Kokopo on New Britain island and 789km from the capital Port Moresby.
It was followed by a smaller 5.7-magnitude aftershock in the same area.
There have been no immediate reports of any major damage.
Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea which lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a hotspot for seismic activity caused by friction between tectonic plates.

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