A powerful earthquake has struck off the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, but a tsunami warning has been put into effect.

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.5 earthquake was located 47 miles south west of the town of Panguna on Bougainville Island. It struck at a depth of 19 miles.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a warning for Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, but said it was not known whether a tsunami had been generated.

Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea. The country lies on the Ring of Fire - an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.