18 Killed as Second Earthquake Rocks Papua New Guinea

No fewer than 18 people have been killed after a magnitude 6.7 quake struck Papua New Guinea’s mountainous Southern Highlands early Wednesday.

The tremor occurred shortly after midnightlocal time, just 31 km (19 miles) southwest of the epicentre of a magnitude7.5 quake that flattened villages last Monday, killing at least 55 people.It was the most severe of a series of aftershocks that have rattled the region, about 600 km northwest of the capital PortMoresby.

Officials say it has further complicated efforts to provide aid to nearly 150,000 people in need of emergency supplies.

“I have just received reports that 18 peoplewere killed last night,”William Bando, HelaProvince administrator told Reuters.“It appears Hides was hardest hit. 

We haven’t heard about potential casualties there yet, but it is a big village with many people.”James Komengi, a United Church project officer, speaking from Tari, the capital of quake-affected Hela province, said his church’s assessment and response centrehad counted up to 67 deaths in that province alone.“Mothers and children are so traumatised. Even my own children are refusing to sleep in our house. 

Every little movement scares them,”said Komengi.

Concerns were also growing about accessto safe drinking water after the shaking destroyed many water tanks, while land slips had poured mud into natural water sources.

Aid efforts are being hampered as rescue workers struggle to reach the highlands area as many roads are either badly damaged or blocked.

The International Red Cross warned the situation could deteriorate if heavy rains hit the region.

“We are anxious to reach communities while there is a lull in what is usually a season of heavy rain. A big downpour could bring landslides in hillsides already destabilised by the earthquake, cause floods and contaminate water,”said UdayaRegmi, Director the International Red Cross in Papua New Guinea.

The Red Cross said its initial assessmentsindicate that as many as 143,000 people could have been affected, with an estimated 500 people injured and 17,000 people displaced from their homes.