Pacific Wrecks Forum

Large quake hits Papua New Guinea

From correspondents in Port Moresby
November 22, 2007 09:55pm

A 6.7 MAGNITUDE earthquake hit Papua New Guinea's port city of Lae this evening, shaking items off shelves, bursting water tanks and plunging parts of the city into blackout.

Australian Larry George, manager of the City Mission, said tonight it was a large quake that was felt for a long time.

“It was a ripper, it emptied our shelves and smashed glasses.”

A water tank also burst and the power was cut, Mr George said.

Lae often had small tremors but today's quake was the biggest many long-term residents had felt, he said.

A staff member at the Lae International Hotel said televisions were damaged after falling onto the floor in guests' rooms.

The US Geological Survey put the quake at 6.7 magnitude - not powerful enough to generate a tsunami - and 78km deep with its epicentre around 100km north of Lae.