Magnitude 6.0 aftershock hits Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea flag(Photo By Nightstallion, Public Domain)

SYDNEY— A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit Papua New Guinea at a depth of 10 kilometers early on Monday, one week after a 7.5 magnitude tremor left more than 30 people dead and about 150,000 others in urgent need of aid in the country, according to the US Geological Survey.

At least three aftershocks greater than magnitude 5 struck the Southern Highlands region in the morning, including the magnitude 6.0 quake, about 600 km northwest of capital Port Moresby. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the latest temblors.

Last week’s quake was one of the largest to hit the region in nearly a century, triggering landslides, destroying buildings and disrupting communication lines. Numerous aftershocks have also hampered the delivery of vital relief supplies to isolated communities.