A 6.8 magnitude earthquake has struck Papua New Guinea

AN EARTHQUAKE has struck the small nation of Papua New Guinea prompting fears of widespread damages and casualties.

AN EARTHQUAKE has rocked the small nation of Papua New Guinea.

According to early reports a 6.8 magnitude quake struck just before 9.30pm (AEST).

There have been no reports of damages or casualties.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a statement shortly after advising that it did not expect there would be a “destructive Pacific-wide Tsunami” and that there was no threat to Hawaii.

The centre also said it would not issue any more statements on the event unless it received additional data.

'Destructive Pacific-wide tsunami not expected & no tsunami threat to Hawaii', Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says after 6.9 quake off PNG

— SBS News (@SBSNews) April 30, 2015

The Papua New Guinea earthquake comes five days after the most destructive earthquake Nepal had seen in 80 years.

More than 5000 have been killed and thousands more are unacccounted for.

#Breaking: #quake of magnitude 6.9 strikes off PNG http://t.co/tYtkIgCUeH pic.twitter.com/PKm4r6lPA7

— SBS News (@SBSNews) April 30, 2015

No reports yet of damages or casualties from a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck off Papua New Guinea. http://t.co/dZaXgY8O2z #9News

— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) April 30, 2015

#BREAKING M6.8 #earthquake strikes near Papua New Guinea, no tsunami alert issued.(USGS) pic.twitter.com/lbd8pqBc9F

— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) April 30, 2015