Papua New Guinea struck by magnitude 6.4 earthquake

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea at 9:17 a.m. UTC, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor occurred at a depth of approximately 64 miles and was located about 30 miles from Kainantu.

The earthquake took place along the Australia-Pacific plate boundary, a 2,500-mile zone stretching from the Sunda trench to the Solomon Islands. The USGS noted that local structures vary between earthquake-resistant buildings and vulnerable constructions. In this seismically active region, earthquakes have recently caused secondary hazards such as liquefaction and landslides.

Papua New Guinea is situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped belt where the Pacific Plate meets several other tectonic plates. This region accounts for approximately 90% of the world's earthquakes. Since 1900, the country has recorded 13 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.5 or greater, including a major 8.1 magnitude event in April 2007 that triggered a deadly tsunami.