Earthquake

UN representatives visit quake affected areas

Gianluca Rampolla, UN Resident Coordinator in PNG, along with David Mcloughlin, Country Representative, UNICEF PNG and Robert Dekker, Emergency Coordinator, UN World Food Programme (WFP) met with communities in some of the most severely-affected communities to talk about their needs and also distributed food and other relief items.

6.3 magnitude quake hits Hela, Western

Residents in Ialibu and Hela have confirmed that the quake had been a strong one, lasting for almost 10 seconds.

The Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory (PMGO) says the epicentre was about 45km West of Tari. 

Details are:

Time:                     3.48 pm

Location:              5.8 ° S, 142.5 ° E

Depth:                  10km

Mag:                      6.3

“The earthquake occurred as a result of fault movements in the Papuan Fold and Thrust Belt, which runs parallel to the axial mountain range of PNG,” reports the PMGO.

FSVAC calls for leadership

The FSVAC is appealing to community and tribal leaders as well as individuals including men, to put an end to the fighting and pursue conflict resolution so that much needed humanitarian support and government assistance can continue into the province.

According to ground reports, displaced women and children who have been traumatized by the earthquake disaster have been greatly affected and have become further displaced after tribal fights erupted in parts of Tari.

GG acknowledges support

Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae, acknowledged the governments and people of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, France and USA, among others, for their contribution through funding, technical support and humanitarian aid.

Grand Chief Sir Bob expressed his gratitude to international organizations on the ground and working closely with the people affected by the earthquake as well as corporate organizations, the United Nations, non-government organizations, churches, and international health volunteers including doctors and those in the emergency service.

Update of police relief efforts

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police, and Commander Highlands Western End, Kaiglo Ambane, police have set up two Relief Operations Command Centre.

The centers are located in Tari at the Curtain Brothers Camp site and the other one in Mendi.

In terms of security, one PNGDF Platoon with two Sections of MS10 are on the ground in Mendi with other Police Units throughout the province are assisting.

Security personnel in Hela include 45 PNGDF personnel, 17 Correctional Services officers and local police personnel in the province.

More than 70, 000 assisted

This include village visitations, providing relief assistance, on the ground medical treatment, and conducting village assessments.

In a statement Managing Director and CEO, Peter Botten, said as of March 13, Oil Search helicopters have made over 86 village drop offs, moving over 70 tonnes of material to Moro and delivered almost all of that already to communities.

Over 10 tonnes of this amount has been medical supplies which have been delivered to health facilities across the affected Gulf Provinces.

WNB musicians to raise funds for quake victims

The initiative was driven by one of West New Britain’s talented musician and pastor, Jayson Raphael Meli.

Mr Meli told this newsroom in a phone interview that the least they can do to help the victims is through music.

 “I was in Goroka attending a crusade when we felt the earthquake and heard of the news about the disaster the next day.

“The idea of helping the victims came to my mind and I decided to make contacts with musicians in the province and decided to do a fundraising appeal for the victims.”

Ok Tedi gives K50 million to Earthquake Relief

Chairman Sir Moi Avei said “Given the magnitude of this disaster, and our responsibility not only to our shareholders but to the people of PNG, we are pleased to offer a helping hand at this time of great distress. We expect these monies will provide much needed assistance to impacted areas in Western Province, OTML’s home province and the devastated Highlands Region.”

SOM delegates convey condolences

Senior Officials’ from Australia, China, the United States, New Zealand, Japan and Indonesia, when conveying their sympathies, stated that their economies stand ready to assist PNG in humanitarian assistance.

The Senior Officials convened in Port Moresby this week to discuss the work plans of technical fora that fall under the three main committees of APEC and other core agenda’s of APEC that will chart a way forward for the work carried out this year under the overarching theme and priorities of PNG in 2018.

6.7 quake strikes southern New Ireland: Pom Observatory

The earthquake, which has a depth of 53km, occurred as a result of interaction between the Pacific and South Bismarck Plates.

Location: 4.4 degrees S, 153.2 degrees E

Place: About 25km SE of Lasu

Furthermore, an official from the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory (RVO) advised Loop PNG that PMGO’s report is more accurate as their recording station is closer to the epicenter than other foreign observatories, especially in terms of triangulation.