A 6.8 magnitude earthquake has hit Papua New Guinea with the US Geological Survey warning people to expect aftershocks.

There are no reports of deaths or damage from the earthquake, which accorded near Rabual in the East New Britain province on Thursday evening.

The US Geological Survey says those living in coastal areas should be aware of possible tsunamis and stay away from the beach.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said "based on all available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii".

A Geoscience Australia spokeswoman described the earthquake as a "fairly innocuous event." "It's not one they're highly concerned about," she told AAP on Thursday night.

"The area that it's hit is a fairly low-populated area."

The ground would have shaken in the region, where earthquakes occur frequently, she added.