Papua New Guinea Earthquake: Death Toll Rising After Magnitude 6.0 Aftershock

Hundreds of thousands of residents in Papua New Guinea were still feeling the effects Monday of an earthquake that occurred nearly a week ago. The 7.5 earthquake rocked the highlands region early February 26, triggering immense aftershocks including a 6.0 magnitude quake Monday.

There have been three aftershocks greater than 5.0 magnitude since the original earthquake, Reuters reported.

"People are in great fear of their lives as the quakes are continuing ever since it started," said James Justin, of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, according to Reuters. "They actually want to know when it will stop."

The death toll from the combined quakes has now risen to 67, said Udaya Regmi, the head of the Red Cross in Papua New Guinea, according to CNN. An estimated 500 more were injured.

RTX4YYQ2
A supplied image shows locals inspecting a landslide and damage to a road located near the township of Tabubil after an earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea's Southern Highlands, February 26, 2018. Jerome Kay/Handout via REUTERS

In addition to those who were killed and injured, hundreds of thousands more were displaced or otherwise affected by the disaster. Some 670,000 people live within 62 miles of the earthquake's epicenter, the Red Cross said.

"Around 143,000 people are affected and 17,000 people have been generally displaced because their homes are either fully or partially damaged and not in a condition to lie in," said Regmi.

Aid workers warned of the need for help in the hard-to-reach region. Landslides sparked by the quakes have wrought havoc on the land: food was reportedly becoming scarce in certain areas due to inaccessible roadways, BBC News reported. Hela province governor Philip Undialu told local reporters the police station, courthouse, hospital and homes had been "ripped apart of sunk into the ground."

"The rugged terrain and loss of communications in the area impacted means it is taking time to build a complete picture of the damage," New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said in a statement Monday, according to CNN. "But we know that tens of thousands of people are reported as requiring humanitarian assistance."

RTX4Z5P6
A local stands next to a damaged house near a landslide in the town of Tari after an earthquake struck Papua New Guinea's Southern Highlands in this image taken February 27, 2018 obtained from social... Francis Ambrose/via REUTERS

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Juliana Pignataro is the U.S. News Director.

Juliana previously led the breaking news/national news team at Newsweek. Juliana graduated from the ... Read more

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go