A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck under the sea in the remote New Ireland region of Papua New Guinea today, the US Geological Survey said on its Web site.
USGS said the quake's epicentre was 154 km (96 miles) east-south-east of Rabaul, New Britain, and 280 km west-north-west of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.
The quake's depth was 10 km (6 miles).
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected.