Several people have died with at least 1,000 homes destroyed in a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked an isolated part of western Papua New on Sunday.
Defence Minister Billy Joseph, who is also in charge of the natural disaster office, said the acting commander of defence had been directed to use all defence force assets to assist with evacuation of people affected by the earthquake.
Joseph said that the government is still evaluating the earthquake’s impact that damaged most parts of East Sepik province, home to nearly half a million people.
“Small boats should not make sea trips no matter how experienced or urgent you need to travel,” he cautioned, calling upon the people to “remain calm and take precautions.”
The epicenter of Sunday’s earthquake was 23 kilometres northeast of the town of Ambunti and seismic activity remained high in the region with a series of aftershocks in neighbouring Indonesia and Solomon Islands.
Papua New Guinea lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic activity occur.
A 7.7 magnitude earth quake killed twenty-one people in September 2022.