Aftershocks continue to spark fear in quake-hit areas

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By MALUM NALU
TARI-Pori MP James Marape, pictured, says more than 50 aftershocks in the past seven days after the 7.5 magnitude earthquake is too much for the people to bear.
Marape, speaking from Tari yesterday, said people in the electorate and other affected areas were not sleeping in their homes but spending nights in the open in fear of tremors.
They fear that their homes might collapse during a tremor and kill them. They also want to know what is causing so many aftershocks, he said.
Marape said since he arrived home with Hela Governor Philip Undialu, Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP Petrus Thomas and Komo-Magarima MP Manasseh Makiba, aftershocks had been continuing.
“I experienced over 16 tremors in the last two days,” he said. “Last night (Sunday), we had a couple of big shocks, including one that was later confirmed to be a 6 magnitude.
“The effects of the continual tremors are both physical and psychological.
“For the last two nights, I have been witnessing people out in the cold and rain, fearing to go into their houses in case the earthquake strikes again.
“I call on State agencies to establish the cause of these continuous earthquakes, and inform our people as to the possibility of future occurrence.”
Marape, Undilau, Thomas and Makina visited areas badly affected by the earthquake.
He said there was “an emotional meeting today” (yesterday) at the foothills of Mt Sisa during the funeral of 11 people who had died in the landslides.
He acknowledged the support of the Government, ExxonMobil and Oil Search on relief operations.