SYDNEY (AFP) - A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea Monday (May 15), the US Geological Survey said, but no Pacific-wide tsunami warning was issued.

The shallow tremor struck in waters near the sparsely populated New Britain island, 450km north-east of the capital Port Moresby, the agency reported.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a widespread tsunami warning.

New Britain, the largest island of the Bismarck Archipelago, is east of mainland New Guinea and has a population of around 500,000.

It lies on the 4,000km Pacific-Australia plate, which forms part of the "Ring of Fire", a hot spot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.