PNG earthquake effort

An update on the status of the relief efforts was presented during a media conference yesterday with the emergency controller, Dr Bill Hamblin, at the Emergency office at Gordon, Port Moresby.

Dr Hamblin said the relief efforts still continue however, supplies for Tari-Pori alone have been put on hold due to the tribal warfare.

He said for the other provinces and impacted areas, the relief supplies are still being distributed.

Rachael Max, who is from Mendi, Southern Highlands Province, is being treated with traditional medicine and prayers from the faithfuls with hopes that God will spare her life.

She lives with her sister in Tubage Village in the Lake Kutubu area.

Her sister is married to a man from Tubage. 

Senior Constable Bob Kone, a policeman at Moro police station, who is also from Tubage, said the young girl went fishing early that morning and after returning with her catch, decided to cook.

While she was cooking, the earth shook.

The 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Highlands region, particularly Hela and Southern Highlands provinces, approximately 600 kilometres north-west of Port Moresby.

The C-130J Hercules left from RAAF Base Richmond on 1 March 2018 and arrived in Port Moresby, where it has begun distributing humanitarian aid bound for earthquake affected areas.

The medium-sized tactical air-lifter has also been requested to conduct aerial surveillance of affected areas in support of the Papua New Guinea Government.