An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the richter scale struck on thursday east of kokopo: The US Geological Survey reported that the earthquake's epicenter was at a depth of 10 kilometers.

According to Qatar News Agency, there have been no reports of casualties or material damage following the quake. Papua New Guinea lies within the Ring of Fire, a seismically and volcanically active region along the Pacific Ocean coastline. This area contains 90 percent of the world's active volcanoes.