DEVASTATING 6.6 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Papua New Guinea: Panic Grips Lae as City of 76,000 Faces Unknown Fate
- A massive 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck near Lae, Papua New Guinea, sending shockwaves of fear through the city’s population of over 76,000.
- The quake’s epicentre was just 26km from Lae, sparking concerns of widespread damage and destruction.
- A tsunami warning was not issued, but the city remains on high alert as officials scramble to assess the damage.
Panic gripped the city of Lae, Papua New Guinea, as a devastating 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck on Tuesday, leaving residents reeling in fear. The quake’s epicentre was a mere 26km from the city, which has a population of over 76,000, sparking concerns of widespread damage and destruction.
City police official Mildred Ongige described the earthquake as “very huge” in a telephone interview with Reuters. “It was a few minutes ago, so we have no further details of damage, but we are concerned,” she added, her voice laced with worry.
Despite the initial report of a 6.8 magnitude earthquake by the German Research Centre for Geosciences, the agency later revised it to 6.6. The quake struck at a depth of 10km, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, which did not issue a tsunami warning.
Papua New Guinea is no stranger to earthquakes, straddling the Pacific’s Ring of Fire, a region notorious for frequent seismic activity. In March last year, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit the remote East Sepik province, killing three people and destroying over 1,000 homes.
As the city of Lae struggles to come to terms with the aftermath of the earthquake, residents are left to wonder if their homes, businesses, and lives will ever be the same again. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, but one thing is certain – the people of Lae will be shaken by this devastating event for a long time to come.