Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake Strikes off Papua New Guinea Coast - USGS

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake took place Sunday off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea’s New Britain island, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the USGS, the quake took place 92 miles south-southwest of Kokopo, the capital of the East New Britain province.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea, as it is located on the so-called Ring of Fire, an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean with one of the highest levels of volcanic and seismic activity in the world.

Earlier this week, an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale took place southwest of Kokopo.

Another 7.6-magnitude quake occurred in the New Ireland region of Papua New Guinea, prompting a tsunami warning.