Papua New Guinea earthquake: 7.2 magnitude quake hits country

Quake strikes eastern edge of mountainous country

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake was reported by USGS (USGS)

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake has struck in Papua New Guinea, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has said.

The quake struck 33km north west of the town of Bulolo in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The focus of the strong quake was 127 km (79 miles) below the surface, the USGS said, in a region at the eastern edge of the mountainous country.

There were no immediate reports of damage.

There are currently no tsunami warnings in the region, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The fire department in the eastern town of Lae said no one had yet called in to report damage or injuries so far following the quake.

It comes after Papua New Guinea was struck by a 7.5 magnitude quake which claimed the lives of more than 150 people last year.

Earthquakes are common in the country, which sits on the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire”, a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates

Its mountainous terrain means it often takes aid agencies and government officials days before they can gather information on damage and casualties.

Additional reporting by agencies