SYDNEY >> A strong earthquake has struck the South Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea. There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami alert has been issued.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-6.4 quake struck  at a depth of 10 miles at 9:14 a.m. Wednesday (1:14 p.m. Hawaii time). The epicenter is about 18 miles north of Rabaul on Papua New Guinea’s island of New Britain.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami alert and the Geophysical Observatory in the capital, Port Moresby, had not received any reports of damage or unusual wave activity.

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