7.5 magnitude earthquake

‘The earth started to shift and shake violently’

This was the traumatising experience of Marlian, a mother-of-three, following the recent 7.5 earthquake. 

“I ran outside pulling my children by the hands and then I saw my house just ‘fly away’.

“We lost everything. Our house is gone, our gardens are gone and the water has turned red so we cannot drink it or wash in it.

“We are sleeping in the bush without any cover.

Earthquake relief: Overwhelming response from residents

The city residents’ positive response comes immediately after NCD Governor Powes Parkop launched the NCD Earthquake Relief Centre at City Hall car park on Monday, March 5, 2018.

During the launch, Governor Parkop appealed to city residents to help donate in cash and kind to support fellow countrymen, women and children affected by the recent earthquake.

The Governor also announced that the earthquake victims in Southern Highlands, Hela, Enga and Western provinces will have their relief supplies delivered to them immediately.

North Fly relief supplies airlifted today

The relief supplies were coordinated by North Fly MP, James Donald.

Bags of 10kg rice, cartons of biscuits, water bottles and noodles valued at K25,000 will be delivered to the district today.

The items are being airlifted from Kiunga to the remote Mogulu station, where a team will coordinate the delivery to those affected areas.

On Monday Ok Tedi Mining Ltd responded positively to the MP’s request for a helicopter hire into the affected areas.

22 artists to raise funds for quake victims

Apart from musicians from Hela and Southern Highlands, B-Rad was one to show interest.

Since the appeal by Elizabeth Tandoa and Augustine Emil, more artists, including Rex Band, dAdiigii and Siassi Heritage, have approached to participate.

The group of artists will host a concert this Saturday, March 10, from which all proceeds will go to the immediate assistance of the affected communities.

The gate fee is K5 for a child and K10 for an adult.

A venue is yet to be locked in, but Tandoa said they are working with NCD Governor Powes Parkop to secure this.

Western forms disaster committee

Member for North Fly James Donald is the chairman of the committee.

Following Monday’s concern regarding assistance not going into the province, particularly the North Fly district, Ok Tedi Mining Ltd responded positively with the request for a helicopter hire to carry out assessment in the areas affected.

Assessment started yesterday.

Donald thanked the management of OTML, especially Deputy Managing Director Musje Werror, for the timely support and assistance.

MP calls for independent quake report

Makiba’s constituency in Hela is one of the worst hit areas following the devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

The MP said there is a lot of speculation and confusion and the people want answers.

In a media conference, Makiba said a factual report on the cause of the earthquake was needed to dispel the rumours and speculation that are rife.

He said this must be done immediately to put to rest speculation that the major resource projects in the area are responsible for the earthquakes, which was propagated by segments of the community.

K1.3m for earthquake relief donated

A mock cheque was presented to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill at the Manasupe Haus in Port Moresby yesterday.

The donation was made under the China-PNG Friendship Association, who had raised over K1.2 million in cash, K60,000 in kind and K100,000 in medicine in just two days.

Deputy Chief of Mission Yao Ming said this is a trying time for Papua New Guinea and the Chinese community in this country are saddened by the loss of lives and damages caused by the massive earthquake.

Disaster committee formed in Mt Hagen

The working group involves members of the national and provincial disaster office, Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Australian Defence Force, Ipili Pogera Investment (IPI), PNG Red Cross, MAF and other non-government organisations.

Chaired by Papua New Guinea Defence Force Joint Task Force Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Immanuel Todick, a workable solution had been reached in which IPI transport in Mt Hagen has offered their transport yard to be use as a storage facility.

SHP villagers moved into care centres: Local

This is according to information to this newsroom by local police officer, Jacob Kumin.

Kumin says a resettlement is highly likely.

Police officer Kumin said about 6 thousand people have been affected in these 3 villages, with the first form of help reaching them yesterday.

Only accessible through air at the moment, Oil Search Limited representatives travelled into these villages and handed out blankets, bedsheets, tarpaulins and bottled water and biscuits.

22 villagers airlifted by PNGDF

Two PNGDF Bell 202 helicopters flew in from Tari Airport, Hela Province, to Huma Pawa village and landed at Huma Primary School.

In a statement, the PNGDF said: “Hundreds of people gathered at Huma Primary School as the helicopters landed. They all had fled their homes to seek refuge and shelter at Huma Primary School.”

Major Ezron Dekeaetavara said their relief supplies will be coming shortly. In the meantime, PNGDF is only helping in providing immediate medical evacuation emergencies.