Papua New Guinea Hit by Powerful Aftershock as Quake’s Toll Mounts<br />"A big downpour could bring landslides in hillsides already destabilized by the earthquake, cause floods and contaminate water." William Powi, governor of Southern Highlands Province, told The Associated Press<br />that collapsed homes and landslides had killed at least 39 people in last week’s quake, and the blockage of feeder roads was impeding recovery efforts.<br />More than 100 people were killed in a magnitude 7.5 earthquake<br />that struck on Feb. 26, said Uvenama Rova, secretary general of the Papua New Guinea Red Cross.<br />At least 67 people were killed in Hela Province in central Papua New Guinea, according to an estimate by the Hela Council of Churches.<br />Papua New Guinea Red Cross said that People are confused and frightened and many more are refusing to return to their own houses.<br />By AUSTIN RAMZYMARCH 7, 2018<br />Papua New Guinea, which is still recovering from a deadly earthquake last week, was hit by a powerful aftershock Wednesday<br />that left an estimated 18 people dead or injured, adding to a mounting toll from the quakes, officials said.<br />"Our people are traumatized and finding it difficult to cope." Papua New Guinea, which comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea<br />and several smaller islands, has eight million people who mostly live in rural areas.
