An 8 point zero magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea today triggering a tsunami alert for several Pacific islands. <br/><br/>The United States Geological Survey measured the quake, some 29 miles west of Arawa on the north coast of Bougainville island. <br/><br/>The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that waves of 0.3 to one meter above tidal level are possible along the coasts. There are no reports of damage from the epicenter of the quake, which is sparsely populated.<br/><br/>Australia and New Zealand both said they had assessed the threat and there is no danger to their coastlines.<br/><br/>Bougainville Island is one of the islands that make up the Autonomous Region of Bougainville within Papua New Guinea which is home to around three lakh people.

An 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea today triggering a tsunami alert for several Pacific islands. <br/><br/>The United States Geological Survey measured the quake, some 29 miles west of Arawa on the north coast of Bougainville island. <br/><br/>The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that waves of 0.3 to one meter above tidal level are possible along the coasts. There are no reports of damage from the epicenter of the quake, which is sparsely populated.<br/><br/>Australia and New Zealand both said they had assessed the threat and there is no danger to their coastlines.<br/><br/>Bougainville Island is one of the islands that make up the Autonomous Region of Bougainville within Papua New Guinea which is home to around three lakh people.