Powerful quake jolts Papua New Guinea island

KOKOPO, Papua New Guinea: A violent 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck an island chain off the north coast of Papua New Guinea late Tuesday, knocking out power and sending residents fleeing for safety.

The shallow quake occurred around 11pm (1300 GMT), some 44 kilometres northeast of Kokopo on New Britain island, the US Geological Survey said. "It was massive, absolutely massive. Very scary," Megan Martin, the managing director of the Ropopo Plantation Resort in Kokopo, told AFP. "There does not appear to be any damage, but we are out checking."

An AFP reporter based in Kokopo said electricity went off in the town after the quake struck and people ran from their homes for safety. There were no initial reports of serious damage, but the full picture may not become clear until daylight.

Aftershocks are still being felt long after the initial quake, as residents sat in darkness, fearful of tsunami waves. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre had forecast a surge of up to one metre in height, that could eventually reach as far away as Japan, Taiwan.