Tsunami warnings after New Guinea earthquake

A powerful earthquake struck near the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea yesterday, prompting officials to warn that hazardous tsunami waves could affect some coastlines in the Pacific. The magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck at a depth of 40 miles, about 30 miles southeast of the town of Kokopo in northeastern Papua New Guinea, the US Geological Survey said. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous tsunami waves were possible for coasts located within 620 miles of Kokopo. That includes Papua New Guinea and the nearby Solomon Islands.