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March 31, 2015
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A powerful earthquake rattled the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea on Monday, generating a small tsunami and frightening locals near the epicenter, but prompting no reports of damage or injuries.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first quake from the South Pacific earthquakes had a magnitude of 6.4 and a depth of seven miles. It reportedly struck 68 miles northeast of Tonga's Hihifo district Monday night. About 30 minutes later, it was followed by a magnitude-6.5 quake with a depth of 9 miles, striking 99 kilometers 62 miles northeast of Hihifo.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had warned that tsunami waves up to 10 feet could strike parts of Papua New Guinea, and waves of less than 1 foot could hit other Pacific countries, as far north as Russia, according to the USA Today report. The center lifted the warning a few hours later, after reporting a one-inch tsunami wave was measured at a wharf in the Solomon Islands, about 280 miles from the epicenter.
According to the report, the quake caused strong shaking and knocked items off shelves in Kokopo, and was felt 500 miles away in Port Moresby.
