Magnitude 6.7 earthquake hits off Papua New Guinea

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea early Tuesday, US seismologists said, with no immediate tsunami warning issued.

The shallow quake hit some 96 kilometres (60 miles) southwest of Panguna at 0019 GMT, according to the US Geological Survey. 

Quakes on the island nation are common, which lies on the 4,000-kilometre-long Pacific Australia plate, which forms part of the "Ring of Fire", a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates, according to AFP.