Seven dead

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SEVEN people have been confirmed dead as a result of landslides caused by the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck parts of the country on Sunday morning, police say.
Police Commissioner David Manning, who is also in charge of the National Command Centre Response, said six were killed in Morobe (three in Kabwum and three in Wau Town) and one in Madang.
Manning said the biggest toll was in the Kabwum district where the three deaths were reported, plus a number of injuries.
“Landslides have been identified in Bulolo, Wau and Boana, and damage sustained by houses and other infrastructures in these areas,”Manning said.
“Damage was also sustained by the Muya Power Plant infrastructure, causing supply outages.”
In Eastern Highlands, Manning said public and private properties were damaged.
They include cracks in buildings at the University of Goroka men’s dormitory and other structures inside the campus.
“There are reports of injuries to students on the (UOG) campus (who) have been admitted to hospital,” he said.
“Cracks have been reported on the bridge just after Kainantu towards Yonki.
“Minor cracks occurred on the road to Yonki.
“Two minor landslips occurred near Kolwara close to the fish market area.”
Manning said engineers were assessing the damage to the Yonki dam which caused a power outage in most parts of the Eastern Highlands.
The Kainantu mine reported damage to its underground facilities and infrastructure.
In Madang, the one death was in Rai Coast.
Manning said there had been reports of damage to buildings at New Town with 13 people injured at Fox Nest House.
“The Government Store compound reported that 23 semi-permanent houses were damaged,” he said.
“Twenty-two semi-permanent houses at the Wagol settlement were also damaged.
“At the DCA Compound, one permanent building and 76 semi-permanent houses were damaged with one report of a person injured.”
He said damage to the Yonki hydro-power station was being assessed, plus the North Coast Highway into Madang Town.
Manning said the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck at 9.46am on Sunday in the Markham Valley was reported by the US Geological Society to be at a depth of 90km.
He said a second 5.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded at 10.42am also on Sunday occurring 70 kilometres north of the original tremor, at a depth of 101 kilometres.