7.1 magnitude earthquake hits off Papua New Guinea

7.1 magnitude earthquake hits off Papua New Guinea
7.1 magnitude earthquake hits off Papua New Guinea



A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea on Friday.

The earthquake hit 80 miles south-south-west of Rabaul, at a depth of 38 miles, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The Daily Telegraph reports that that quake hit at 8.06am local time, 428 miles northeast of Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby.

No injuries or damages have so far been reported. A 6.7-magnitude quake hit the same region on Thursday, 81 miles southwest of Kokopo.

Earthquake Strikes Papua New Guinea
Earthquake Strikes Papua New Guinea



According to rte.ie, co-director of the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre, Daniel Jaksa, told AFP: "This is the second earthquake that has occurred in that region over the last two days.

"The previous one was about 10km to the southeast of this particular epicentre. It's a very uninhabited region off the island of New Britain.

"The earthquake was a measure of 7.1, so that's about 30 times smaller than the earthquake in Nepal.

"It should be like the one yesterday - no real impact."

Meanwhile, according to the Press Association, Britain has added a further £5.3 million to aid relief efforts to help people affected by the Nepal earthquake disaster, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said.

The money, which will be split between five different UN aid agencies, takes the UK's humanitarian contribution to help those affected by last Saturday's 7.8 magnitude quake to £22.8 million, the Government said.

The announcement came as the Himalayan country was forced to close its only international airport to large jets because they are causing damage to its runway as they bring in aid.

Ms Greening said: "The UK is standing by Nepal and its people in their hour of need by ensuring lifesaving supplies continue moving around the country and by providing charities on the ground with fast-tracked funding.

"But even more has to be done to make sure these vital supplies keep reaching those who need them. With this latest British boost we will help the UN coordinate the relief effort on the ground and ensure everyone affected by this disaster continues to get the support they need."

The new money will be split between agencies helping supply food, clean water and shelter to the millions of people affected by Nepal's worst earthquake in 80 years - the World Food Programme, Unicef, the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC).





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