Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake Strikes Papua New Guinea... 5 Dead, 1,000 Homes Destroyed

Rescue Team Searching Jungle
Possibility of Further Increase in Casualties

According to AFP and other sources on the 25th, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that occurred on the 24th (local time) in northern Papua New Guinea resulted in 5 deaths and the destruction of about 1,000 houses.

Photo provided by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) website capture

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at a point about 38 km northeast of Ambunti in East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, in the early morning of the previous day. The focal depth was confirmed to be 40.2 km.

The earthquake caused damage to some areas of East Sepik Province, including Ambunti and Wewak. In particular, the earthquake struck areas already affected by flooding, increasing the extent of the damage.

Alan Bird, governor of East Sepik Province, said, "So far, about 1,000 houses have been destroyed."

A police official reported that 5 deaths have been confirmed. Rescue teams are searching the jungle, so the number of casualties may increase.

Earlier this month, at least 23 people died due to landslides and floods in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a circum-Pacific seismic belt, and earthquakes frequently occur in the region.