Earthquake toll still rising

– A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea’s mountainous Southern Highlands yesterday killing at least 18 people, an official said, a week after a larger quake flattened villages and killed at least 55 people.

The tremor struck just 31km southwest of the epicentre of last Monday’s magnitude 7.5 quake that has left government and aid agencies scrambling to provide emergency supplies to the remote region.

Australia will deploy three helicopters this week to deliver aid, while New Zealand will send a second military plane to distribute medical equipment, hygiene kits and tarpaulins.

Yesterday’s quake was the most severe of a series of aftershocks that have rattled the resource-rich region, about 600km northwest of the capital Port Moresby.

William Bando, the administrator of Hela Province, said initial reports put the death toll from the aftershock at 18.

Manasseh Makiba, Papua New Guinea’s vice-minister for petroleum & energy who represents parts of Hela Province in parliament, said victims were still being found. “People are still being extracted from mud. People are still being taken to hospitals,” he said.

Local media outlets reported the death toll from the original quake had risen to 75 from 55. – Reuters

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