Papua New Guinea’s eastern region experienced a significant seismic event on Saturday, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of damage resulting from the quake.
The earthquake, measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale, struck at a depth of 53 kilometers (33 miles) and occurred at approximately 7:30 pm (0830 GMT). The epicenter was located approximately 56 kilometers southeast of the coastal town of Madang, according to information provided by the USGS.
Shortly after the initial quake, an aftershock of equal magnitude was recorded off the coast of Madang, as reported by the USGS.
It is noteworthy that earthquakes are relatively common in Papua New Guinea, although they rarely lead to widespread damage. This can be attributed in part to the fact that outside major urban centers, much of the country is sparsely populated, and many structures are constructed from wood. However, certain seismic events can indeed result in more substantial destruction.
In a tragic example from April, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck a jungle-covered area in the Pacific Island nation. Regrettably, this event claimed the lives of at least seven individuals and resulted in the destruction of about 180 homes in the Karawari area, near the epicenter of the quake.