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SYDNEY, Sept 12 (Portal) – The death toll from a “substantial” earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea on Sunday has risen to seven, the Pacific island nation’s police commissioner said, adding that it was deep beneath the Earth occurred, which limited the damage.
A first 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Markham Valley at 9:46 a.m. Sunday, followed by a 5.0-magnitude quake 70 km (45 miles) north an hour later, Police Commissioner David Manning said in a statement Monday. Continue reading
The two earthquakes were reported at a depth of 90 km and 101 km underground, he said.
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Significant damage to buildings and roads, as well as landslides, were reported in Morobe, Eastern Highlands and Madang provinces, he said.
“Unfortunately, seven people were killed as a result of these landslides. Three in Kabwum District and three in Wau City, Morobe Province and one in Rai Coast, Madang Province,” he said.
“This was a significant earthquake, but it happened deep underground and this meant the damage was less than if the epicenter had been closer to the surface,” he added.
Air carrier Manolos Aviation organized medical evacuations from Kombul village in Kabwum district.
“Half the mountain is gone,” said Erebiri Zurenuoc, Manolos Aviation PR officer who was on the ground in Kombul.
The government has established a national command center and a COVID-19 hotline has been repurposed for the public to offer information on earthquake damage.
The regional power grid, Internet cables, roads and highways were damaged, Manning said.
In the Eastern Highlands province, there was damage to the University of Goroka and reports of student injuries, he said. Engineers investigate damage to the Yonki Dam that has caused power outages.
There were multiple injuries in Madang province as buildings and houses were damaged and one fatality was reported in Rai coast, he said.
He warned of a significant risk of aftershocks.
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Reporting by Kirsty Needham and Lewis Jackson in Sydney; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa
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