Quake hits Papua New Guinea

The islands' coastline is vulnerable to giant waves

A massive earthquake measuring eight points on the Richter Scale has shaken Papua New Guinea, triggering at least one tidal wave.

Reports say the towns of Rabaul and Kokopo were hit by the wave and communications and power supplies were cut off, although damage is not thought to be severe.

The quake was felt up to 400km away, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Residents in Rabaul, at the north-east tip of the island of New Britain, said the ground shook violently for 40 or 50 seconds and aftershocks were continuing.

An official warning of possible tidal waves, or tsunamis, has been issued in large areas of the western Pacific.

More than 2,000 people in the region were killed by tsunamis in 1998 following two underwater quakes.

Wave

The quake in Papua New Guinea, which was picked up by the Japanese Meterological Agency, was centred in the Pacific Ocean 20 miles from Rabaul. It struck at 1400 local time (0400 GMT).

Residents of Rabaul said the quake threw them to the floor, shook walls and waves a metre high appeared in their swimming pools

Witnesses contacted before the loss of communications said a supermarket and other buildings in Rabaul had been hit by the tsunami.

Authorities in the Northern Mariana Islands and New Caledonia declared a tsunami alert and urged people in low lying areas to evacuate immediately.

The Hong Kong Observatory has meanwhile reported another quake measuring 5.5 in the north-western Philippines.

The epicentre was thought to be around 320km (200 miles) north-west of Manila. No damage or casualties were immediately reported.