Dozens dead as quake hits Papua New Guinea

More than 30 people are feared to have died after an earthquake struck Papua New Guinea’s interior.

Reports yesterday of extensive damage began to emerge after the 7.5-magnitude tremor struck 90 kilometres south of Porgera in the Pacific nation’s Enga province early on Monday, with two strong aftershocks.

Phone lines were down, but the PNG Post Courier newspaper cited Hela provincial administrator William Bando as saying there were casualties.

It reported that at least 13 people died in the Southern Highlands capital Mendi, while 18 were believed to have been killed in nearby Kutubu and Bosave.

About 300 people were injured, it said, and properties damaged, with reports of landslides and sinkholes.

The Papua New Guinea Today website, quoting Roman Catholic priest Pius Hal, said at least 10 died, including four children, in landslides.

A government assessment team was scheduled to fly into the area yesterday to get a better idea of the damage, with the military mobilised to help restore services and infrastructure, said the government’s chief secretary, Isaac Lupari.

“The scale of damage, from information we are getting from the ground, is quite extensive,” said Hela governor Philip Undialu. There were about 19 landslides between Mendi and the town of Mount Hagen, he said.

“Our police station, courthouse, hospital ... even private houses have been ripped apart or sunk.

“It’s going to be a massive recovery exercise.”

The tremor hit at a depth of 35 kilometres about 3.45am, US seismologists said, with aftershocks of 6.0 and 6.3 magnitude recorded.