Killer quake

The National Main Stories
Christopher Tamari

By GYNNIE KERO
A 7.0-MAGNITUDE earthquake which hit East Sepik’s Chambri Lakes at around 4am yesterday reportedly killed four people, injured 17 and destroyed more than 300 homes, according to police.
Provincial police commander Supt Christopher Tamari told The National from Wewak last night that they were unconfirmed figures as authorities continued to collate information on the extent of the damage.
The earthquake hit an area around 100 kilometers south west of Wewak, with a depth of 80 km.
National Disaster Centre director Col Carl Wrakonei said they were waiting for reports from the provincial disaster coordinators.
Wrakonei said the earthquake was also felt in West Sepik, Enga, Eastern Highlands, Jiwaka and Southern Highlands.
A statement from the Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management division said the epicentre was located at Chambri Lakes in Wosera-Gawi.
Other details include:

  • EARTHQUAKE felt widely along the northern coast of the mainland, and many Highlands provinces;
  • THERE have been five aftershocks, with more expected;
  • NO potential tsunami as it occurred on land;
  • REPORTS of houses damaged in Ambunti; and,
  • PEOPLE within the epicentral region advised to take precautionary measures.

On the possibility of a tsunami or a volcanic eruption, an official from the division said: “No there are no volcanoes in that area.
“The disturbances would be due to the amount of rotting vegetation in the lakes.
“The earthquake has disturbed these and resulted in normal decomposition of gas being released.
The effects will soon stabilise.”
Speaking from the Chambri Lakes, Bernard Mandali told The National that as of yesterday morning, three houses were damaged at Aibom village but there were no casualties reported.
Ambunti-Dreikikier MP Johnson Wapunai said the district office was also hit, with seven houses in the Ambunti area destroyed as of 9.30am yesterday.
“In Avatip, three houses collapsed while four houses fell in Yambon and Yawambak was badly hit,” he said.
“Houses swayed and are standing sideways including the ward member’s houses which fell to the ground. In Malu, two small houses fell.”
He estimated that almost 30 per cent of houses were damaged.