Strong quake off Papua New Guinea, no tsunami seen

SINGAPORE, Oct 17 (Reuters) A strong earthquake was recorded off Papua New Guinea at 0925 hrs local time, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said today.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties after the magnitude 6.5 earthquake, whose epicentre was under the sea 577 km northeast of Port Moresby.

The USGS described the quake as ''strong'' on its website but said no tsunami warning had been issued.

''No destructive Pacific-wide Tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data,'' it said.

The area of the quake is in the Pacific ''Ring of Fire'', a seismically active area with frequent earthquakes and volcanos.

REUTERS SP RAI0925