Tsunami warning after earthquake strikes off coast of Papua New Guinea

A earthquake of magnitude 8.0 has struck off the east coast of Papua New Guinea.

Widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible following the earthquake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) said following the earthquake.

The earthquake hit about 157km east of Rabaul on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake rattled residents near the epicenter on the island of New Ireland, but was not felt in Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, said Mathew Moihoi, an official with the Geophysical Observatory.

There were no immediate reports of damage, though officials were still assessing the situation, he said.

New Zealand's civil defence also issued a tsunami warning following the earthquake.

"We're continuing to assess the situation ... at this stage we are advising New Zealanders to stay off the beaches, stay out of the water, not to go sightseeing and to listen to the radio and TV," a spokeswoman for New Zealand's Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management said.

The tsunami warnings were later cancelled.

In a revised report the PTWC said any tsunami waves in countries other than Papua New Guinea were forecast to be less than 0.3 metres.