earth quake

The centre earlier said waves reaching 1 to 3 metres above the tide level were possible in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea for several hours.

Waves of less than 0.3m above the tide level were forecast for other areas of the Pacific, including Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Nauru and Vanuatu.

In a recent update the New Zealand Civil Defence clarified that there was no tsunami threat to New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said waves reaching 1 to 3 metres above the tide level were possible in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea for the next several hours.

Waves of less than 0.3m above the tide level were forecast for some other areas of the Pacific, including Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Nauru and Vanuatu.

Civil Defence said there was no tsunami threat to New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands.

An advisory to stay out of the water and away from beaches was issued after the earthquake but later cancelled, based on the analysis of additional data.

The quake occurred at a depth of 117 miles (212 km) some 19 miles south-southwest of the uninhabited island of Agrihan in the U.S. territory, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

No tsunami warning has been issued, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.

Spokesman Paul Whitmore said a barely noticeable wave of about two inches was recorded in Saipan, the largest of the islands.