14 DAY TRIAL // A strong earthquake shook Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean this May 5, at 01:44 UTC. The earthquake had a recorded magnitude of 7.5, the US Geological Survey informs.
It is understood that the earthquake struck at a depth of about 42 kilometers (21 miles). As illustrated in the map below, its epicenter was documented roughly 130 kilometers (81 miles) south of the town of Kokopo.
US Geological Survey scientists say that the 7.5-magnitude shake happened in an area where the Australia plate, moving east-northeast at 105 millimeters per year (4.13 inches per year), meets the Pacific plate.
More precisely, the earthquake that hit Papua New Guinea this May 5 is said to have occurred in a region where the Australia plate gets pushed into the planet's mantle under New Britain.
“The May 5, 2015 M 7.5 earthquake south-southwest of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, occurred as the result of thrust faulting on or near the plate boundary interface between the subducting Australia and overriding Pacific plates.”
“The moment tensor and depth of the event are consistent with thrust-type motion on the interface between these two plates,” US Geological Survey specialists explain in a statement.
The earthquake prompted a tsunami warning
Following the shake, officials issued a warning saying that tsunami waves measuring up to 1 meter (roughly 3 feet) in height were possible within 300 kilometers (about 180 miles) of the earthquake's epicenter.
One such wave was observed in the harbor of Rabaul, but a few hours later, the tsunami warning was lifted. Even so, specialists with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center say that unusual tidal activity can still happen in the area.
Although powerful, the quake failed to cause major damage to local infrastructure. It did, however, make a few walls crack and some power lines collapse. For now, there are no reports of people injured or killed.
Just last week, two other earthquakes hit the country of Papua New Guinea. They occurred on April 30 and May 1, and had a recorded magnitude of 6.7 and 6.8, respectively.
