6.9-Magnitude wuake rocks Papua New Guinea, claims Lives, destroys homes

A devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Sunday, wreaking havoc in various regions, particularly the East Sepik Province.

The seismic event, reported by local media on Monday, resulted in the loss of three lives and the destruction of at least 1,000 homes.

According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake’s epicenter was located in the northern part of the Pacific island country, with a depth of 40.2km.

The quake originated approximately 38km east-northeast of Ambunti, at coordinates 4.139 degrees south latitude and 143.159 degrees east longitude.

PNG’s East Sepik Province, including Ambunti and Wewak, bore the brunt of the earthquake’s impact.

Reports from PNG’s daily newspaper, Post Courier, confirmed the tragic loss of lives, including a mother and her child in Jikinumbu Village, as well as a boy in Sotmeri Village.

In addition to the human toll, the earthquake caused widespread destruction of residential areas. The National, another prominent newspaper in PNG, highlighted that at least 1,000 homes were demolished in parts of the East Sepik Province.

As PNG grapples with this calamity, urgent assistance and support are required to aid affected communities in their recovery efforts.