A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea at 10:58 p.m., local time, on Tuesday.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii says the focus of the quake was 10 kilometers deep. It says the threat of tsunami has now largely passed.

But it says minor sea level fluctuations may continue over the next few hours.

Earlier, the center said tsunami waves reaching 30 centimeters to one meter above tide level were possible for some coastal areas of the country.

It said tsunami waves of less than 30 centimeters could reach Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines and other countries in the Pacific.

An employee at a hotel in Kokopo, about 50 kilometers from the epicenter, told NHK there was a strong tremor, but buildings have not been damaged.

The employee said authorities were instructing people to evacuate coastal areas in case a tsunami hit.

A magnitude-7.5 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea in February last year, killing more than a hundred people.

Credit> NHK