Magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea’s Lae, panic at stadium ceremony

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.6 on the Richter scale struck near Lae, Papua New Guinea’s second-largest city, on Tuesday night, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake’s epicentre was located about 26 kilometres (16 miles) from Lae, a city of over 76,000 residents, USGS data showed. Social media posts confirmed that the tremor was also felt in the capital, Port Moresby. No immediate reports of damage or casualties were confirmed.

Papua New Guinea government official Malum Nalu, who was at the stadium during the incident, described the earthquake as “very violent.” The tremor struck around 9 pm (local time), just as mourners had gathered to honour the late Luther Wenge, the governor of Morobe province.

“Soldiers were lifting Luther Wenge’s casket to take it to a funeral home when it struck,” Nalu told Reuters by telephone.

“There was a big rumbling noise like a plane flying overhead, then the building was shaking violently for around three minutes,” he said.

“There were hundreds of people inside, it was packed to capacity. People were rushing to get out of the exits and the deputy prime minister was calling for people to keep calm,” he added.

Nalu added that despite the chaos, the crowd eventually dispersed safely.

Lae city police official Mildred Ongige called the earthquake as “very huge,” noting that the force of the tremor caused widespread alarm. However, both Nalu and Ongige said they had not yet received any official reports of damage or injuries.

Another witness, who requested anonymity, said the quake had stirred superstitious fears among some locals, who viewed the timing of the tremor — during the governor’s ceremony — as an omen.

Several senior government ministers were already in Lae for the planned state funeral of Governor Wenge, which was scheduled for Wednesday.

NO TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED

Despite the quake’s magnitude, no tsunami warning was issued, and authorities urged residents to remain calm but vigilant.

Papua New Guinea lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a geologically volatile region where tectonic plates frequently collide, triggering earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In March last year, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck the remote East Sepik province in northern Papua New Guinea, killing three people and destroying more than 1,000 homes.

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With inputs from agencies