The US Geological Survey issued an alert saying the quake struck 13km south of Kokopo at approximately 11.44am AEST, in the New Britain region of the island nation, at a depth of 50km.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre had said that hazardous tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1m were possible for Papua New Guinea coastlines located within 300km of the earthquake epicentre.

While some tsunami oscillations were reported in Rabaul Harbour, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has now declared that the threat of a tsunami has largely passed.

(9news.com.au)