Earthquake strikes off Papua New Guinea
Photo taken on June 16, 2010 shows a man spraying water on a fire following a series of strong earthquakes to hit Papua.
A strong earthquake struck off an island in Papua New Guinea early Thursday morning.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or injuries, but the quake could be felt hundreds of miles away, the Associated Press reports.
The 6.6-magnitude quake struck off the island of New Britain and was at a depth of 13 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey reportedly said.
Geoscience Australia reported that the earthquake was too deep to cause serious damage.
No tsunami warning was issued.
Chris McKee of the Pacific nation's Geohazards Program told the AP that strong shaking was felt 250 miles away in the town of Rabaul.
Papua New Guinea is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a hotspot for seismic activity given the high number of volcanoes and fault lines. It often experiences volcanic activity, earthquakes and tidal waves, states the BBC country profile.
Papua New Guinea is known for its great cultural diversity.
While it is rich in natural resources, much of the people remain poor. About 80 percent of the population lives in rural areas with few signs of modernity.