A 7.6 magnitude earthquake in eastern Papua New Guinea on Sunday killed at least five people, seriously injured several and damaged buildings.
MP Kessy Sawang said in her constituency at least two people died in remote mountain villages and at least four others were airlifted to hospital in critical condition.
"The damage is considerable," she said, adding that a landslide buried houses and "split" in two a village in which the inhabitants "lost their homes".
In this region, the means of communication are limited, the authorities have few resources and there are few paved roads, which complicates rescue operations and damage assessment.
Small airlines and missionary organizations took part in airlifting some injured people across the rugged jungle landscape.
Tsunami warning lifted
Residents of towns in the north of the country, located near the epicenter, reported strong tremors in the middle of the morning, which cracked roads and loosened the coatings of buildings.
In the town of Goroka, located in the mountainous eastern region of the country, videos posted on social media showed blinds and windows falling from the walls of the university cracked by the tremor.
The earthquake was felt as far away as the capital Port Moresby, approximately 480 kilometers away.
The United States Institute of Geological Surveys (USGS), which had initially issued a tsunami warning, quickly lifted it.
The USGS, however, reported that there may be “minor sea level fluctuations in some coastal areas.”
Prime Minister James Marape urged the population to remain cautious and take refuge on the heights.
World
China earthquake: After a magnitude 6.6 earthquake, the death toll rises to 74
Company
Pau: An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.2 recorded near the Lacq basin
World
Papua
Earthquake
Earthquake