Strong quakes jolt Papua New Guinea

Two strong quakes, a magnitude 6.2 quickly followed by a magnitude 6.1 aftershock, struck Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, on the eastern shore of the main island of New Guinea, the US Geological Survey reported.

The first quake, initially reported as a magnitude 6.7 but later verified at 6.2, was centered 55 miles north of the town of Lae. It was only 29.8 miles deep. The aftershock, deeper at 38.5 miles, struck at 7:13pm GMT, very nearby, 46 miles north of Lae. (Reuters)