Magnitude 7.6 Earthquake Near New Guinea, Papua New Guinea
Sunday, September 8, 2002 at 18:44:26 (UTC)

Sept. 9, 2002

A strong earthquake has struck the shoreline of Papua New Guinea, reportedly killing at least three people and ripping seaside homes from their foundations.

The quake caused a small tidal wave that swept away up to 50 homes away in its wake.

The magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit offshore in the early hours of the morning. The damage was worst in the northwest of the coastal town of Wewak, according to Mark Leonard of the Australian Geological Survey Organization.

Mr Leonard said more than a dozen aftershocks had shaken the area, including one of magnitude 5.1, and that tremors were likely to continue.

"We can expect up to 100 more aftershocks in the next day, but they will most likely be far smaller than the initial quake," he said.

An earthquake in the same area in 1998 caused a huge wave that killed about 1600 people.

"About 40 or 50 houses were washed away. It wasn't this monstrous tidal wave we had at Aitape four or five years ago, it was more like a gentle swell and the waves came in and took the houses out with them," said Bishop Tony Burgess from the Catholic diocese in Wewak.

Martin Mose, assistant director of Papua New Guinea's National Disaster Management Office, said three people were confirmed dead.

Chief Sergeant James Japele from Wewak police said that Prime Minister Michael Somare had flown into Wewak and was meeting with local officials.

Japele said some homes and roads in Wewak had collapsed and that the local hospital had been evacuated after cracks appeared in its foundations.

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