Quake kills one

Woman dies, 1 injured, homes damaged as 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocks parts of PNG

By CLARISSA MOI and JIMMY KALEBE
A WOMAN died in a landslide and another was injured when her home collapsed as a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit parts of the country including Port Moresby on Friday, officials say.
Northern police commander Supt Michael Welly told The National yesterday that the woman, in her 30s, from Kendata village in the Higaturu local level government area of Sohe was at her garden when a landslide buried her alive.
The villagers later recovered her body. She was buried at the village later that day.
Kelly said police who arrived at the village on Saturday confirmed that the villagers had buried her.
“That was the only casualty,” he said.
Bosadi village elder Berry Donnea said a woman in her late 40s was also injured when her home collapsed on her during the tremor.
She was taken to the Morobe health centre for treatment and is awaiting further medical examination at the Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae.
Donnea said 12 homes in three villages were damaged, and the nearby Bosapai River changed its course causing panic among the villagers.
One of the damaged homes belonged to a teacher in charge of the Bosadi elementary school who was in Lae to pick up school materials.
“Families whose houses were destroyed are now seeking refuge with extended family members.
“Many people say this was a first of its kind experience that they came across in their lives,” Donnea said.
He said others out fishing experienced a change in the waves and current.
“People are still in shock thinking that there will be a tsunami. Heavy rain is still experienced at the village.”
Oro native Owen John Mongagi who was in Popondetta town when the earthquake hit said: “Everyone in the shops were screaming, female shop assistants fainted after witnessing the concrete walls moving, food and other items on the shelves flew in different directions.
“The earthquake also damaged our water supply at Bangoho.”
Meanwhile, a volcano information bulletin from the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management issued on Saturday stated that they were monitoring Mt Lamington in Oro for volcanic activity.
“(It) has not changed much since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Friday. The summit area has been covered most times by ordinary atmospheric clouds but during brief periods of clearance this morning (Saturday), similar emissions as reported above were observed.”