At least 18 dead from a 6,7 magnitude earthquake in Papua New Guinea
At least 18 people have been killed when a magnitude 6,7 earthquake shook the highlands of Papua New Guinea in the early hours of this morning, adding to the worst of the main quake that caused widespread damage in the country nine years ago. days.
The quake, which struck shortly after midnight (local time), was the strongest quake to date in the aftershock after a magnitude 7,5 earthquake shook villages and caused landslides, killing at least 55 people. on the 26th of February.
"We have just received information that 18 people lost their lives last night," William Bando, head of local government in Hella County, told Reuters.
"It seems that (the village) Heinz was the one that was hit hardest. We do not have information about victims there yet, but it is a big village, with many inhabitants ", he added.
This first report of casualties comes at a time when authorities and paramedics are finding it difficult to navigate the inaccessible areas of the highlands to assess the extent of the damage and provide assistance to those affected.
Landslides, the fact that many roads are still impassable, cracks in aircraft runways and damage to telecommunications networks make it difficult for authorities to assess the situation, provide an accurate death toll and provide assistance to the estimated 150.000 earthquake victims. they need it immediately.