Magnitude 7.2 quake hits eastern Papua New Guinea, no injuries reported

(Reuters) - A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck in the east of Papua New Guinea early on Tuesday local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The epicentre of the strong quake was 127 km (79 miles) below the surface, the USGS said, in a region some 66 km southwest of the town of Lae at the eastern edge of the mountainous country.

The fire department in Lae said no one had yet called in to report damage or injuries so far following the quake.

The USGS-linked Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a tsunami after the quake.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon in Wellington and Sonali Paul in Melbourne; editing by Chris Reese and G Crosse)