Strong 6.9 magnitude earthquake reported near Papua New Guinea

A strong 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck near Papua New Guinea on Saturday morning local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake was centered 194 km southeast of Kimbe, the capital of the province of West New Britain, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Several aftershocks, including a 5.3 magnitude earthquake, followed, according to U.S. Geological Survey data.

The quake prompted the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center to issue a tsunami warning for the Pacific island nation, saying, "Hazardous tsunami waves are forecast for some coasts."

The tsunami threat alert has since been canceled.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.