Largest Earthquake of 2015 Strikes Near Papua New Guinea

The Associated Press
Published: March 29,2015

Earthquake Report

The largest earthquake on Earth in 2015 struck near the South Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea Monday (local time). Hazardous tsunami waves could affect various coastlines in the Pacific, prompting officials to issue warnings.
The magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck approximately 34 miles southeast of the town of Kokopo in northeastern Papua New Guinea at a depth of 40 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Hazardous tsunami waves could strike coasts located within 620 miles of Kokopo, including those of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said
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The tsunami warning center said tsunami waves reaching 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) were possible for Papua New Guinea's coastlines.
Officials in the capital, Port Moresby, were working to contact their counterparts in the outer provinces, but there had been no reports of damage or injuries within an hour of the quake rattling the country, said Martin Mose, acting director for Papua New Guinea's National Disaster Center. No one had reported seeing any tsunami waves, he added.
"The situation seems to be under control at this stage," he said.
Tsunami waves of less than 0.3 meters (1 foot) could hit other Pacific island nations, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Hawaii later Monday, the tsunami warning center said.
Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea. The country lies on the "Ring of Fire" - an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim.
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