Tsunami threat passes after 7.5 quake in Papua New Guinea

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea Monday, sending startled residents fleeing from their homes, but a tsunami threat passed with no immediate reports of major damage.
      
The quake hit at a depth of 33 kilometres (20 miles), some 55 kilometres from the nearest city of Kokopo on New Britain island and 787 kilometres from the capital Port Moresby, the United States Geological Survey said.
      
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre initially cautioned that "hazardous" tsunami waves could hit some coastal areas in PNG. It later updated its advice to say the threat had passed.
      
It noted a reading of waves 0.03 metres (0.1 feet) above the tide level at Tarekukure Wharf, some 450 kilometres from the epicentre. Information from coastal areas closer to where the quake struck was sketchy.
      
Mathew Moihoi from Papua New Guinea's Geological Observatory said officials were still unable to make contact with more remote areas to determine whether there had been any sea level changes.
      
"We've not been able to receive such information from the people as to whether a tsunami has been observed or not," he said.
      
Leonie Fakal, a housekeeper at the Seaview Beach Resort in Kokopo, said all the staff and their two guests ran outside when the quake hit.
      
"Everybody was a bit afraid. There was a lot of shaking and some things fell down in the hotel," she told AFP soon after the quake.
      
"Everyone ran outside but there was not much damage."       

John Amos, a reception clerk at the Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort, added that the quake produced a powerful jolt but there was no damage.
      
"It was the biggest earthquake we have...