BY PHEOBE GWANGILO
Four deaths, 300 houses damaged, four casualties and 17 people were injured, affecting around 23 villages across the province in the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck East Sepik province yesterday, according to the situation report by the police station commanders and the National Disaster Office, in East Sepik Province.
It was reported a 7.0 Magnitude earthquake that occurred at around 4:04am at Chambri Lakes in East Sepik Province.
“This morning we sent teams out to assess the damage,” said ESP governor Allan Bird.
“Once we know the full extent of the damage we will them formulate an appropriate response.
“Any urgent situations have been dealt with by the appropriate teams,” he said.
Tremors continued after the initial earthquake according to locals.
“We don’t know when the earthquake will stop,” Salvador Kemaken, a local from Chambri Lakes where the epicentre is, he said.
The Post-Courier had a phone interview with Mr Kemaken at around 2.30pm yesterday.
“In the last two weeks, we were experiencing thunders until 4am this morning, we encountered a sudden earthquake that destroyed three houses in Kirimbit village,” he told the Post-Courier.
“As I speak, I could still feel the earth’s movement but lesser than what we experienced in the morning.
“The people are living in fear but we have asked them to remain calm until further advice.
Otherwise, it’s nothing for them to fear about.
“The only school we have in Chambri had classes today suspended.”
According to a statement from the National Disaster Centre, the earthquake was also felt in the provinces of Western Highlands, Enga, Eastern Highlands, West Sepik, Jiwaka and Southern Highlands.
It said all the respective provincial disaster coordinators had been advised to make assessments and provide reports on the extent of damages.