Powerful earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea

 earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea

On Sunday, September 11, at 9:46 am local time (UTC+10), a strong earthquake struck Papua New Guinea near Kainantu. Injuries and at least three deaths were reported in the hours after the quake. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.6 MW on the moment-magnitude scale. "It's going to be a devastating earthquake," said USGS geologist Jana Pursley. She expects the damage from the earthquake to be moderate to severe.

The epicenter is 66 km east of Kainantu, 90 km below the surface. Three people have died in the mining town of Wau, according to Morobe province disaster management director Charlie Masange. Seismologist Felix Talanu, who works at the Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory, said the quake "probably caused significant damage", but it is too early to estimate the full extent of the damage. "Earthquakes are often felt here, but they are usually not very long or strong," says Renagi Love, a local geologist who lives in Kainantu. “It was pretty intense.” About 10,000 people live in and around the town, located in the highlands of New Guinea, says Love. Papua New Guinea is located in the so-called Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic activity are frequent. In 2018, similarly powerful earthquakes hit the mountainous region, killing at least 125 people.