6.9-magnitude earthquake hits off Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville

A strong 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville Island Saturday but there was no risk of a widespread tsunami, seismologists said.

The quake hit at 0104 GMT and was centred 62 kilometres (38 miles) southwest of Panguna on Bougainville at a depth of 45 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.