May 5, 2015 Earthquake: Papua New Guinea

Felt at Kimbe, Kokopo and Rabaul. Kokopo, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea - CDI: 7; Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea - CDI: 6; Kimbe, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea - CDI: 3(reference #13456)

A powerful earthquake rattled the South Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, generating a small tsunami near the epicenter, bringing down power lines and cracking walls, but causing no widespread damage. A tsunami estimated at under one meter (three feet) was seen in the harbor of Rabaul, a town near the epicenter of the 7.5-magnitude quake, said Chris McKee, assistant director of the Geophysical Observatory in the capital, Port Moresby. There were no reports of flooding, as the tsunami didn't rise beyond the normal level of high tide, McKee said. The earthquake struck at a depth of 42km (26 miles), about 130km (80 miles) south of the town of Kokopo in north-eastern Papua New Guinea, the US Geological Survey reported, after issuing varying estimates of the quake's power. The earthquake brought down power lines in the Rabaul area, knocking out power to residents and to the local Geophysical Observatory office, McKee said. There were a few reports of structural damage in Kokopo, including cracks in some walls, but no reports of injuries, he said. PNG Loop reported some ceilings coming down in Kokopo buildings, and a landslide at Vunabakut, blocking traffic. (reference #11201)