7.5 magnitude earthquake

Gr 10 student badly burnt during PNG’s quake

Rachael Max, who is from Mendi, Southern Highlands Province, is being treated with traditional medicine and prayers from the faithfuls with hopes that God will spare her life.

She lives with her sister in Tubage Village in the Lake Kutubu area.

Her sister is married to a man from Tubage.

Senior Constable Bob Kone, a policeman at Moro police station, who is also from Tubage, said the young girl went fishing early that morning and after returning with her catch, decided to cook.

While she was cooking, the earth shook.

PNG earthquake: A lifetime scar

This is no exception for the victims of the 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

‘People are really scared’

From communication with locals in the area, this newsroom has gathered that:

Quake affects BSP operations

In a statement, the Bank said: “Our staff are safe but as with other people in these communities, they have suffered damages to housing and personal items.”

BSP branches at Porgera, Wabag and Mt Hagen also experienced minor damage as a result of the earthquakes but remain open.

BSP sub branches at Tambul, Pangia, Wapenamanda and Ialibu also remain open.

The management and staff are currently assessing the overall destruction to their branches and equipment for appropriate repairs to be carried out, and the reopening of branches affected.

20 PNGDF platoons in SHP: Col Numa

Following Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s orders for the PNGDF to initiate immediate response to the earthquake yesterday, PNGDF Chief of Staff, Colonel Raymond Numa, has confirmed the presence of troops on ground.

Col Numa said PNGDF personnel are stationed exclusively in Southern Highlands, Enga and Hela provinces, while the headquarters is based in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province.

PNG’s Hela focuses on restoration, relief

Governor Philip Undialu said according to information they have received so far, most of the powerlines, roads, health and education infrastructure have all crumbled during the quake.

One of the most seriously affected areas is the LNG site and the facilities, which are currently on a temporary shutdown.

Earthquake split land, island slowly sinking: Local

Inu is a lakeside village along the Lake Kutubu.

Baiyo Baboro, a local there, said the earthquake rattled their area at around 3am on Monday morning, splitting the ground.  The lake water and river Mubi rose up, covering parts of the village.

Also submerged now is the Inu Primary School, Inu Sub-health Centre and the secondary school.

Villagers, students, teachers and other public servants in the area are cut off, stranded on this island.

Baboro said the tremors are still being felt and water is rising.

EMPNG’s update on quake-impacted facilities

The two LNG trains at the PNG LNG plant near Port Moresby have been safely shut down following yesterday’s shut down of the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant and Hides well pads in Hela Province.

In a statement, EMPNG said: “We are continuing to work with our customers to minimise the impact.

“Evacuation of non-essential personnel from the Hides Conditioning Plant will continue today.

“Specialist engineers are also flying into Hides to join remaining personnel on site to assist with damage and repair assessments.

Magnitude 7.5 quake rattles Papua New Guinea

The quake had a depth of 35 kilometres, hitting at about 4am local time, according to the USGS.

The quake struck in the heart of mainland PNG in Southern Highlands province.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the quake did not present a regional tsunami threat.

About a half an hour later a second earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 in the same area with a depth of 39 kilometres.

PNG rests on the so-called 'Ring of Fire', a known hotbed of seismic activity due to a tectonic plate that spans the Pacific.

     

Earthquake: Two die after massive tremors in NZ

Authorities are scrambling to assess damage and respond to reports of injuries after the first, 7.5 magnitude earthquake centred near Hanmer Springs.

"On the best information we have, there have been two fatalities," Mr Key told a media conference early this morning.

Earlier, police said one person had died in Kaikoura, where a house had collapsed in the earthquake.

Police said they were also trying to get to a property at Mt Lyford, north of Christchurch, where a second person is believed to have died.