The agency has specified that the epicentre of the quake that occurred 44 kilometres northeast of Kokopo, was 10 km below the surface. Following the report about the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami alert.
"Based on the preliminary earthquake parameters, hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 1000KM of the earthquake epicentre".
No information on possible damage or casualties is available.
The latest major earthquake in the region occurred just a week ago, when a magnitude 7.2 quake struck around 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) to the north-west of the town of Bulolo, central Papua New Guinea.