A powerful earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.9 hit near the coast of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea at 10:51 UTC on December 17, 2016. The agency is reporting a depth of 103.2 km (64 miles). Geoscience Australia is reporting M8.0 at a depth of 95 km (59 miles). Tsunami is possible along some coasts of Papua New Guinea. Powerful aftershocks are shaking the region.