Strong quake hits Papua New Guinea

SYDNEY – A powerful earthquake struck off the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea on Saturday, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The magnitude-7.5 earthquake was located 47 miles southwest of the town of Panguna on Bougainville Island, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It struck late Saturday at a depth of 19 miles.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands but canceled it a short while later.

Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea. The country lies on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim.