6.9-magnitude quake wreaks havoc, destroys several houses in Papua New Guinea

Three people died, and at least 1,000 homes were destroyed after a 6.9-magnitude quake jolted Papua New Guinea on Sunday.

This is according to local media reports on Monday.

Data from the U.S. Geological Survey indicated a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the northern Pacific island country on Sunday.

The epicentre, determined to be 40.2km deep, is located at 4.139 degrees south latitude and 143.159 degrees east longitude, approximately 38km east-northeast of Ambunti.

The reports said several regions in the country’s East Sepik Province, including Ambunti and Wewak, bore the brunt caused by the earthquake.

PNG’s daily newspaper, Post Courier, stated that the disaster had claimed three lives to date, including a mother and her child in Jikinumbu and a boy in Sotmeri.

At least 1,000 homes were destroyed after the earthquake hit parts of the East Sepik Province, which was already under strain from flooding, according to Papua New Guinea’s newspaper, The National.

(Xinhua/NAN)