Today, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the middle of Papua New Guinea, about 89 Km Southwest of Porgera. The United States Geological Survey (USGS,) said the magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck at a depth of around 35 Km in Komo Magarima district, New Guinea. The local MP, Manasseh Makiba said, “The reports are coming that the earthquake was very huge and there were some casualties. There were landslides and destruction of some properties and houses and there were reports of some lives being lost… about ten.”
A few of the neighbouring provinces also felt the earthquake. The neighbouring provinces include Enga, Southern and Western Highlands. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) was quoted saying there is no regional tsunami threat. The Acting Director of Geohazards Management for the Government of Papua New Guinea, Chris Mckee said around tens of thousands of people live in the highlands affected by the earthquake.
Chris said, “This area lies along an earthquake zone known as the Papuan Fold Belt, it is the fault responsible for the mountain range that forms the spine of the Nation.” Chris added the earthquake was caused by one side of the fault moving over the other, causing a thrust as the ground squeezes together. Papua New Guinea is located on the Eastern side of New Guinea, East of Indonesia.
