7.2 magnitude earthquake rocks Papua New Guinea, local tsunami possible

Sydney: A powerful earthquake rattled the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea on Thursday, prompting a tsunami warning for nearby coasts.

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck about 150 kilometers (94 miles) southwest of the town of Panguna on Bougainville Island at a depth of 22 kilometers (14 miles), the US Geological Survey reported.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter on the coasts of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

This is the fourth strong earthquake to rock the island nation in a week. The archipelago sits on the Ring of Fire, the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common.