Papua New Guinea earthquake

The 6.9 magnitude quake (which was initally measured by the US Geological Survey as magnitude 7-point-3) struck near the village of Wau, just after one o'clock this afternoon, local time, at a depth of 85 kilometres.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says hazardous waves are possible within 300 kilometres of the epicentre, along the coast of PNG.

The epicentre is about two-hundred kilometres north of PNG's capital Port Moresby.

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred at 03:44 am on Monday (26 February) in the Southern Highlands region, about 30km South of Tari and about 40km North-West of Lake Kutubu.

Governor for Hela Province, Philip Undialu, told this newsroom that an unconfirmed number of people have been injured while communication with authorities in Hela, located in the Highlands region, has been lost.

Undialu said health and education infrastructure have also been damaged and the province is looking at a temporary shutdown of vital services until further notice.