Earthquake Shakes Magnitude 7.5 in Papua New Guinea Feels Until Merauke and Jayapura, 3 People Reportedly Killed

Illustration-BMKG (Photo: DOK ANTARA)

PAPUA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported an earthquake measuring magnitude (M) 7.5 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, September 11 this morning. The earthquake shook several areas in Papua, Indonesia.

Acting Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Daryono, noted that the earthquake, which was located on land, was felt from Merauke to Jayapura.

"It was felt in Merauke (II-III MMI), Jayapura (II MMI), Wamena (II MMI), Enarotali (II MMI)", said Daryono in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Sunday, September 11.

The MMI II intensity scale is a vibration felt by some people, light objects that are hung swaying. While the intensity scale II - III MMI, namely the vibration is felt real in the house, the vibration feels as if a truck is passing.

The earthquake's epicenter was 352 km northwest of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, located at 6.36 South Latitude, 146.55 East Longitude, with a depth of 116 km, Daryono concluded.

Recent developments reported at least three people died in the earthquake disaster. Quoted from various sources, according to historical records, the Papua New Guinea earthquake which resulted in fatalities occurred on July 17, 1998.

Two earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea with a magnitude of 7.0 which caused a tsunami that devoured 30 kilometers from the northern coastline of neighboring Indonesia.

From the data obtained, it was recorded that there were 7 villages affected by the tsunami. More than 2,000 people are listed as missing. However, according to local sources, the death toll was between 6,000 and 8,000. More than 12,000 people were displaced by the disaster.

In addition, Papua New Guinea was rocked by an M 7.5 earthquake with a depth of 234 km on February 26, 2018, in Hela Province. More than 100 people died, and thousands of homes were damaged by the 7.5-magnitude earthquake in Papua New Guinea's remote mountainous region.