A massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake has struck in Papua New Guinea's East Sepik Province.
A quake of 7.0 on the Richter scale is massive and has the potential to cause major destruction. It was detected at a depth of 64km, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) says "some casualties are possible" but thankfully "impact should be relatively localised".
But people are being warned to expect "strong aftershocks".
Meteorologist Daniel McFarland tweeted: "A 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit northern Papua New Guinea at a depth of only 22 miles. Strong aftershocks are likely to follow around the northern half of the country."
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The quake was said to have first been felt in Ambunti, which is a small town. The USGS said the epicentre was 32km east-north-east of Ambunti. It comes hours after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia on Friday, beginning in Paciran.
There is currently no tsunami warning or threat, authorities have said.
The US Tsunami warning system reported: "Preliminary earthquake parameters: magnitude 7.0; origin time 2022 utc mar 23 2024; coordinates 4.1 south 143.0 east; depth 64 km / 39 miles; location new guinea papua new guinea.
"Evaluation: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 occurred in new guinea, papua new guinea at 2022 utc on saturday march 23 2024; based on all available data... there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake." [sic]
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They added that "no action is required" and "this will be the only statement issued for this event unless additional data are received or the situation changes."
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The quake is understood to have hit a remote area of the country, which is in Oceania. Tremors were felt in a number of regions.
The Independent State of Papua New Guinea comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia. It shares its only land border with Indonesia to the west.
It is directly next to Australia to the south and the Solomon Islands to the east. It is the world's third largest island country.
Australians have been advised by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology that there is no tsunami threat to their country from this earthquake.
USGS stated that there were three earthquakes of varying strengths in a two-hour period. At around 8.40 local time a 5.1 hit, before two quakes in the space of a few seconds, with one registering at 6.9 and the other 7.0.
Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency wrote on Twitter that there are no tsunami threats to the US islands, which lie around 4,300 miles to the north east.
Professor Dr Judith Hubbard of Cornell Earth and Atmospheric Sciences in New York State tweeted: "I vote Papua New Guinea for most complicated tectonics."