Tsunami alert after 7.9-magnitude quake hits Papua New Guinea

A strong 7.9 magnitude earthquake off Papua New Guinea on Sunday has triggered a tsunami alert for several Pacific islands.

The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake, about 47km west of Arawa on the north coast of Bougainville island, and the depth was put at 154km.

Preliminary reports said the earthquake measured 8.0.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in an updated advisory that waves of 0.3-1m above tidal level were possible along the coasts of PNG and the Solomons.

It wound back an earlier alert that encompassed Nauru, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Vanuatu, Chuuk and Indonesia, reports the 9news.com.au.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre earlier said there was no threat to Australia, and New Zealand confirmed there was no danger to its coastlines.

Quakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which sits on the Pacific's "Ring of Fire", a hot spot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.