Papua New Guinea, May 7: An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude hit the Papua New Guinea region on Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) informed. According to reports, the quake struck 33 km north west of the town of Bulolo in the early hours of Tuesday. There were no immediate reports of damage. According to reports, there are currently no tsunami warnings in the region, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Earthquake in Andaman Islands: Quake of Magnitude 5.0 Hits Southern Union Territory, No Loss of Life.

Papua New Guinea, in the southwestern Pacific, encompasses the eastern half of New Guinea and its offshore islands. A country of immense cultural and biological diversity, it’s known for its beaches and coral reefs. "We have no reports as yet" of serious damage, Inspector Leo Kaikas, Bulolo police station commander, told the AFP news agency. "We are still assessing the situation."

The epicentre 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.  Reports inform that the quake hit around 7:20 am Tuesday (21:20 GMT Monday) 33 kilometres southeast of Bulolo, on the country's eastern side, at a depth of 127 km. It was felt in the capital Port Moresby about 250 km away.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 07, 2019 08:31 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).