A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 rocked the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea on Monday , generating a 'small tsunami ' and frightening locals near its epicenter . The quake struck at a depth of 65 kilometers ( 40 miles ) , about 50 kilometers ( 30 miles ) southeast of the town of Kokopo , near Rabaul , at around 10am local time , the U.S. Geological Survey reported . It was followed by a 5.7-magnitude aftershock and a 1.5-foot-high tsunami , which was measured in Rabaul 's harbor , near the quake 's epicenter , said Martin Mose , from the National Disaster Center . But despite the quake - which was likely felt by people up to a staggering 2,000 kilometers ( 1,240 miles ) away - and the subsequent tsunami , no damage nor injuries have been reported , officials said . Quake : This photo , released by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) , shows a shakemap of the region ( white cross ) in Papua New Guinea where a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Monday . The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had warned the quake could cause tsunami waves of up to 10 feet in parts of Papua New Guinea , and waves of less than one foot in other Pacific countries . It said 'hazardous tsunami waves were possible for coasts located within 1,000 km of the earthquake epicentre along the coasts of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands ' . But the center lifted the warning a few hours later , after reporting a one-inch tsunami wave was measured at a wharf in the Solomon Islands , about 450 kilometers ( 280 miles ) from the epicenter . A Geoscience Australia spokesman told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that while a tsunami warning had been issued for Papua New Guinea , there was no threat to Australia at the time . Target : The quake struck at a depth of 65 kilometers ( 40 miles ) , about 50 kilometers ( 30 miles ) southeast of the town of Kokopo , near Rabaul ( pictured ) , at around 10am local time , the U.S. Geological Survey reported . Frightening incident : The quake was followed by a 5.7-magnitude aftershock and a 1.5-foot-high tsunami , which was measured in Rabaul 's harbor , near the quake 's epicenter . Above , another shakemap of the region . 'We 've had no reports of a tsunami being generated for local region at this stage , ' he said . In Rabaul , residents noticed the sea level rose slightly , prompting ocean water to flood the parking lot of a shopping center near the beach , said Mika Tuvi , an employee at the Rabaul Hotel . 'But nothing beyond that - no damage caused , ' she said . When the quake struck , guests and workers at the hotel fled outside , fearing the building would collapse , Ms Tuvi said . The tremors , which lasted for about 5 minutes , were frightening in their intensity , but the hotel withstood the shaking , she said . Location : The quake hit about 10am local time Monday and a tsunami warning has been issued in the region . No threat : On Monday , Geoscience Australia said there was no immediate threat to Australia . Officials in the capital , Port Moresby , were working to contact their counterparts in the outer provinces , but hours after the quake , there still had been no reports of damage or injuries . Mr Mose said he was confident the nation had averted a major catastrophe . The quake caused strong shaking and knocked items off shelves in Kokopo , and was felt 500 miles away in Port Moresby , said Chris McKee , assistant director of the Geophysical Observatory . Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea . The country lies on the 'Ring of Fire ' - an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim .
Strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked Papua New Guinea on Monday . Followed by 5.7-magnitude aftershock and generated 1.5ft-high tsunami . Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had said quake could cause 10ft waves . But it lifted its warning a few hours later after reporting smaller tsunami . No damage/injuries have been reported , officials said Monday afternoon . Local tsunami threat was issued in PNG but was no threat to Australia .