An earthquake registering 6.3 on the Richter scale has damaged houses in Papua New Guinea early on Sunday morning.

There are no reports of casualties so far and no tsunami warning has been issued.

Villages in the Hidden Valley gold and silver mine area says buildings have cracks but none have collapsed. Mining has not been affected.

The quake took place at a depth of 66 kilometres and was felt in the capital Port Moresby 300 kilometres to the south.

Papua New Guinea is on the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, a hotspot for seismic activity.