5th April 2025 – (Port Moresby) A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea on Saturday, prompting a tsunami warning from the U.S. Tsunami Warning Centre. The quake occurred at a depth of 49 kilometres in the New Britain region, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
The epicentre was located approximately 194 kilometres east of Kimbe, as reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS). The tsunami warning indicated potential waves of up to three metres along Papua New Guinea’s coastline, while a caution for smaller waves measuring 0.3 metres was issued for nearby Solomon Islands.
At present, there are no immediate reports of damage stemming from the earthquake. This incident follows a deadly magnitude 6.9 quake in March of the previous year, which resulted in three fatalities and the destruction of around 1,000 homes in East Sepik province.
Papua New Guinea lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area characterised by extensive seismic faults that is responsible for a significant portion of the world’s earthquake and volcanic activity.
