An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 struck off the coast of Papua New Guineas East Sepik Province on Tuesday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicentre was located approximately 20 kilometres offshore from the provincial capital of Wekak and detected at an estimated depth of 12 kilometres at 8:46 am local time.While the quake was felt in the area, no destructive tsunami was triggered, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed.Notable quake, preliminary info: M 6.5 - near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea https://t.co/8VnoHNpMaK— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) November 27, 2023 Papua New Guinea: A highly earthquake-prone zone Geological authorities state that Papua New Guinea sits above the seismically active Ring of Fire, making earthquakes a common occurrence, but rarely severely destructive. Strong quakes in the mountainous, jungle-covered country can however trigger landslides.This year at least seven Papua New Guineans died after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit the nations remote interior in April. Around 180 homes were also ruined in the Karawari region, near that quakes epicentre. Papua New Guinea: 2022 Earthquake In September 2022, a 7.6-magnitude quake took 10 lives and destroyed hundreds of buildings, while also cutting off power and splitting roads in Papua New Guineas rugged northern provinces. The 2022 event was the largest to impact the island since a 2018 shallow 7.5-magnitude tremor in Hela province killed approximately 150 people.According to authorities, many of the countrys nine million citizens reside in rural areas outside major population centres, hampering access and rescue efforts when earthquakes impact such isolated communities.Geological experts say while usually not intensely destructive, earthquakes and their aftereffects remain an ever-present hazard across much of Papua New Guinea due to their placement along the volatile Ring of Fire zone.
