KAINANTU: A 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook Papua New Guinea, damaging buildings, triggering landslides and killing at least five people. The United States Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at a depth of 61km (38 miles), about 67km (41 miles) from the eastern town of Kainantu, on Sunday morning.
Local member of parliament Kessy Sawang said at least two people were killed in remote mountain villages, with four others airlifted to hospital in critical condition. In nearby Wau, Koranga Alluvial Mining said three miners were buried alive.
“There has been widespread damage,” said Sawang, adding a landslide had buried homes and “split” one village where people “lost their houses”. The nation’s leader, James Marape, said the earthquake was “massive” and told people to be cautious, but said he expected the damage to be less than that from a 2018 earthquake and series of aftershocks, which killed an estimated 150 people. –Agencies
