A massive earthquake hit near Papua New Guinea. It was 7.1 magnitude. The quake happened underwater, about 49 kilometers deep.
The earthquake struck off the coast of New Britain, an island in Papua New Guinea. This area is part of the Ring of Fire, where many earthquakes happen.
People in the area felt the quake, but so far, no one is hurt. Local officials are checking for damage and warning people about more earthquakes that might come.
The US Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning, telling people near the coast to be careful. But they canceled it later. The earthquake was strong, and people are still watching to see what happens next.
What happened
The earthquake happened on April 5, 2023, at 3:24 am local time. It was reported by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
Papua New Guinea is northeast of Australia, about 160 kilometers away. The island of New Guinea is the second-largest tropical island in the world, after Greenland.
Aftershocks expected
Local officials are warning people about aftershocks, which are smaller earthquakes that can happen after a big one. They are checking for damage and making sure everyone is safe.
The US Tsunami Warning Center warned people near the coast about a tsunami, but then canceled the warning. For now, people are waiting to see what happens next.