Strong magnitude-6.8 earthquake strikes near Papua New Guinea; no initial tsunami warning
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A powerful earthquake has struck near Papua New Guinea.
The United States Geological Survey said the shallow magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck Wednesday morning about 19 kilometers (11 miles) from the small northern town of Aitape.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not immediately issue any alerts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Papua New Guinea is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.