A powerul 7.9 magnitude earthquake has struck off Papua New Guinea, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake took place near the eastern New Ireland region, several hundred kilometres from the main island, at a depth of 73km.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) issued a warning saying "widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible".
They could threaten the coasts of not only Papua New Guinea but also Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Nauru, Kosrae and Vanuatu.
As far way as New Zealand, a tsunami warning was issued by the Ministry of Civil Defence but later cancelled.
Locals were unphased by the quake.
Alun Beck, 70, told The Independent he hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary.
The New Zealand native, who runs a guest house on the north of New Ireland, said earthquakes were common in the region.
The south of the island, near where the latest quake struck, is remote and only accessible by boat, Mr Beck said, adding that communities there tended to "fend for themselves".
Papua New Guinea sits on the Ring of Fire, the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common.
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