A huge 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck close to Papua New Guinea, prompting a tsunami warning is said to have sent people running into the street.
A tsnuami warning has been issued for parts of the southwestern Pacific after the tremor struck 29km north-east of Kokopo, the capital of East New Britain, at a depth of 10km around midnight, local time.
There were no immediate reports of damage.
The US National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has warned surrounding territories including nearby Solomon Island of the potential for tidal waves generated by the massive quake to hit their coastlines.
It said: "Hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 1000 km of the earthquake epicenter, along the coasts of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands."
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AFP Australasia's news editor Andrew Beatty tweeted that a reporter for the agency in Kokopo had not seen any reports of damage.
He wrote: "An AFP journalist from Kokopo, near the epicentre of the massive quake said it knocked the power out and sent people running into the street.
"Amazingly local businesses report no initial signs of damage, but a full assessment will not be possible until daylight."
The mountainous island sits in an archipelago amid the Pacific's Ring of Fire.
The seismically active region encircles the ocean, where volcanic and quake activity is an ever-present threat.
A 7.2 magnitude quake hit near Papua New Guinea last week.
The quake struck in the early hours of the morning of May 7.
Just months ago Indonesia was also hit by a horrific earthquake and tsunami which claimed more than 4,000 lives.
Indonesia earthquake: Tsunami warning after Sulawesi hit by magnitude 7 tremor
Days ago frightened Sulawesi locals endured another magnitude 7 earthquake, sparking a tsunami warning.
Kokopo only became capital of East New Britain after it had to be moved from Rabaul due to volcanic eruptions in 1994.
New Zealand's Civil Defence has said any tsunami generated by the latest quake near Papua New Guinea is not thought likely to reach the country's coastline.
