The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at a depth of 34 kilometres, 44 km east of the coastal town of Wewak and 732 kilometres north of the capital Port Moresby.
Papua New Guinea, mired in poverty despite rich mineral deposits, sits on the so-called
"Pacific Ring of Fire", a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.
A giant tsunami in 1997, caused by an undersea earthquake or a landslide, killed more than 3,500 people near Aitape, on the country's northwest coast.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels | Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks