7.5 quake hits Papua New Guinea

SYDNEY: A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea Monday, sending startled residents fleeing from their homes, but a tsunami threat passed with no immediate reports of major damage.

The quake hit at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles), some 55 kilometers from the nearest city of Kokopo on New Britain island and 787 kilometers from the capital Port Moresby, the United States Geological Survey said.