8.0-magnitude earthquake hits Papua New Guinea, tsunami alert issued

Port Moresby: An earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale jolted the area 60 km east of Taron, Papua New Guinea on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said.

The epicentre, with a depth of 73.4 km, was initially determined to be at 4.474 degrees south latitude and 153.577 degrees east longitude, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hazardous tsunami waves are possible, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.

No casualty or damage have been reported yet.