Damage assessment in Papua New Guinea's earthquake-hit Southern Highlands province has confirmed widespread devastation to public infrastructure.
A road in Komo, Hela province of Papua New Guinea, affected by the 7.5 earthquake 26 February 2018. Photo: Supplied
Relief supplies are starting to reach affected communities in the province over two weeks after a magnitude-7.5 quake struck in neighbouring Hela province.
The death toll is over 110 but is expected to rise as response teams gradually reach remote parts still cut off by landslides, particularly in Hela.
The Southern Highlands police commander and deputy chairman of its disaster committee, Joseph Tondop, said that assessment reports coming in depicted extensive damage.
"Especially to public infrastructures like roads, bridges, public schools, hospital facilities, especially the rural health centres and health posts have been severely damaged and affected from basically the whole of Southern Highlands province."
Taunda Mope,15yr old Grade 4 student who lost his parents and four siblings along with four other relatives to the earthquake in Hela province. Photo: Scott Waide
Mr Tondop said that for their province, they have managed to assess most of the damage.
"At the same time we are now into providing relief assistance to all those areas that are affected. Those who are very severely affected have been moved into self-made care centres in the most-affected areas, especially Kutubu and Nipa."
