Filipinos in Papua New Guinea safe after 7.2 quake: DFA

According to the DFA, the earthquake was strong enough to be felt in Port Moresby, about 250 km. away. (File Photo From Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said none of the estimated 36,000 Filipinos in Papua New Guinea was hurt in the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit the eastern part of the country on Tuesday morning.

In a bulletin sent to reporters on Wednesday, Chargé d’Affaires Mary Grace Villamayor said the Philippine embassy in Port Moresby is in touch with the Filipino community in the affected cities of Lae and Kokopo, and with the Filipino association in the country.

No tsunami warning was issued by the United States Geological Survey-linked Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. It identified the epicenter around 33 km. from the town of Bulolo.

According to the DFA, the earthquake was strong enough to be felt in Port Moresby, about 250 km. away.

As of posting, no casualty or damage to infrastructure has been reported, but Villamayor said the embassy continuously monitors the situation and stands ready to provide the necessary assistance.

In February 2018, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea, triggering landslides that killed more than a hundred people.