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Magnitude 6.5 earthquake hits Papua
The agency said the quake's epicentre was at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles).
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This image from the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows a tremblor gauged on a seismograph 22 December 2003, described as a major earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale, which shook central and southern California. (AFP/AFP)
A
n earthquake of a 6.5 magnitude struck Papua province on Friday, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said, adding there was no tsunami potential.
The agency said the quake's epicentre was at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles).
Also on Friday, the United States Geological Survey said a magnitude 6.6 earthquake rattled Papua New Guinea, striking off the country's eastern coast.
The USGS said the quake was 51 kilometres (31.6 miles) deep and located 123.2 kilometres from the closest town of Kokopo.
The Papua New Guinea National Disaster Centre said it was assessing for damage.
A hotel receptionist in Kokopo, Vernon Gash, told AFP the earthquake was "a bit intense" and lasted under a minute.
"We are used to it, it happens all the time," he said, adding there was no damage to the hotel.
There were no tsunami warnings issued following the earthquake.
Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which sits on top of the seismic "Ring of Fire" -- an arc of intense tectonic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
Although they seldom cause widespread damage in sparsely populated areas, they can trigger destructive landslides.
