6.0 magnitude earthquake hits Papua New Guinea

The GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences has reported that a 6.0-magnitude earthquake jolted the Papua New Guinea Region at 08:41 GMT on Thursday morning.

The natural disaster, with a depth of 195.3 km, was initially determined to be at 5.49 degrees south latitude and 147.52 degrees east longitude.

In August, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) also reported that a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck Jordan and Syria, with tremors also felt in Lebanon.

The GFZ said that the earthquake, initially estimated at 5.46 magnitude, was later revised to 4.8. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) and caused noticeable impacts across the affected regions.

Reuters reports that at least 25 people sustained minor to moderate injuries due to stampeding following the August earthquake, according to Maher Younis, Health Director of Hama, Syria.

Meanwhile, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported that the earthquake’s epicentre was located east of Hama.

In Salamiya, a town about 30 km (18.5 miles) east of Hama city, residents fled into the dark streets in panic, according to Nasser Duyub, a local state employee.

“My son was asleep, and I don’t know how I managed to grab him and get out of the house,” Duyub told reporters.

Witnesses described seeing a balcony collapse and ambulances treating people who had fainted.

The earthquake triggered immediate memories of the 2023 disaster when a 7.8 magnitude quake caused widespread devastation, killing over 50,000 people, mostly in Turkey but also in northern Syria.

Earthquake problems in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is located near the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to earthquakes.

In fact, the country has experienced several significant earthquakes in recent years.

One of the most devastating ones occurred on February 26, 2018, with a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that triggered landslides, killing over 100 people and affecting more than 500,000 people.

The earthquake also destroyed crops, affected water sources, and left many without access to basic necessities like food, shelter, and healthcare.

*Earthquake-Prone Regions:

Some of the regions most affected by earthquakes in Papua New Guinea include:

– East Sepik
– Morobe
– New Ireland
– New Britain
-Southern Highlands.

*Impact on Local Communities:
Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea often result in displacement, injury, and loss of life.

The 2018 earthquake, for example, displaced over 18,000 people, with many living in informal camps or evacuation facilities without adequate water and sanitation.

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