Quake of 6.5 magnitude strikes off PNG

An earthquake of 6.5 magnitude has struck off the south coast of Papua New Guinea, just off the southern coast of the island of New Britain.

An earthquake of 6.5 magnitude has struck off the south coast of Papua New Guinea. (AAP)

An earthquake of 6.5 magnitude has struck off the south coast of Papua New Guinea, the US Geological Survey says.

There was no Pacific-wide tsunami threat from the quake that struck early on Monday east of Lae, just off the southern coast of the PNG island of New Britain, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.