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DHA-GENEVA 93/0421
PAPUA NEW GUINEA - EARTHQUAKE
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
13 OCTOBER 1993

1. AN EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 7.2 ON THE RICHTER SCALE SHOOK PAPUA NEW GUINEA AT 12:06 PM LOCAL TIME (02:06 UTC) 13 OCTOBER. THE EPICENTER IS ESTIMATED AT LATITUDE 5.8 DEGREES SOUTH, LONGITUDE 145.6 DEGREES EAST, DEPTH NORMAL, 40 KMS NORTH NORTH EAST OF TOWN OF GOROKA, 440 KMS NORTH NORTH WEST OF PORT MORESBY. AN AFTERSHOCK OF 6.6 OCCURRED AT 01:08 PM LOCAL TIME.

2. THE EPICENTER IS LOCATED IN THE EASTERN HIGHLANDS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA WHICH IS RUGGED AND MOUNTAINOUS. OUTSIDE THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL GOROKA, THE AREA IS SPARSELY POPULATED.

3. UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. AS OF 16:00 PM (LOCAL TIME), LOCAL POLICE HAD NO REPORTS OF INJURY OR DAMAGE.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DUTY OFFICER: S. NISHIKAWA, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3131
PRESS TO CONTACT MS. SKANDRANI, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3114

TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: DIALCOM 141 : DHAGVA

DPR 310 PNG

DHA-GENEVA 93/0425

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - EARTHQUAKE
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO.2
14 OCTOBER 1993

SITUATION

1.TWO AFTERSHOCKS OCCURRED IN THE AFTERNOON OF 13 OCTOBER 1993 FOLLOWING THE EARTHQUAKE REPORTED YESTERDAY. ACCORDING TO THE MEDIA, 20 TO 30 PEOPLE ARE MISSING IN MOROBE PROVINCE DUE TO A LANDSLIDE CAUSED BY THE QUAKE. ELECTRICITY CUTS WERE ALSO REPORTED.

2.THE NATIONAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (NDES) ARE GATHERING INFORMATION ON THE DAMAGE. AN AERIAL SURVEY OF THE AREA AFFECTED BY THE EARTHQUAKE IS BEING CARRIED OUT TODAY BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND DIRECTOR OF NDES.

3.THE UN/DHA RESIDENT COORDINATOR REMAINS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH NDES TO MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL.NO.(OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917-2144
PRESS TO CONTACT: M. SKANDRANI, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3114

TELEX:414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA

DHA-GENEVA 93/0432

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - EARTHQUAKE
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO.3
15 OCTOBER 1993

SITUATION

1.UN/DHA RESIDENT COORDINATOR REPORTS THAT, FOLLOWING VISIT ON THURSDAY BY PRIME MINISTER AND SOME MINISTERS TO THE AREA AFFECTED BY THE EARTHQUAKE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (NDES) CALLED A BRIEFING SESSION FOR DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA AT 13.30 HRS LOCAL TIME TODAY. AT THE MEETING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED.

2.THE EARTHQUAKES TRIGGERED DOZENS OF LANDSLIDES IN THE FINISTERRE RANGES WHICH LIE BETWEEN 146.08 DEGREES E, 5.50 S AND 147.0 E, 6.2 0 S, ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN MOROBE AND MADANG PROVINCES. ACCORDING TO GEOLOGISTS, THIS ISOLATED MOUNTAINOUS AREA IS GEOLOGICALLY UNSTABLE AND FREQUENTLY AFFECTED BY EARTHQUAKES. IN THE ABSENCE OF PAVED ROADS, ACCESS FOR DELIVERY OF RELIEF SUPPLIES IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY HELICOPTER.

3.THE LANDSLIDES ARE BETWEEN 2,000 AND 2,500 FEET IN LENGTH AND ABOUT HALF A MILE WIDE. THEY ENGULFED HOUSES, BLOCKED RIVERS AND HAVE AFFECTED FOOD PRODUCTION BY THE DESTRUCTION OF FAMILY GARDENS.

4.INDICATIONS AT THIS STAGE ARE THAT THE DEATH TOLL REACHES AT LEAST 50, WITH RISING TENDENCY. ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES, SOME 60,000 PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE EVENT. QUANTIFICATION OF THE NUMBER OF INJURED AND HOMELESS PERSONS, THE LOSS OF HOUSES AND FAMILY GARDENS IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE NOMADIC EXISTENCE OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AFFECTED AREA MAKE RESCUE WORK AND A PRECISE ESTIMATE OF THE POPULATION AFFECTED DIFFICULT.

5.THE IMPACT OF THE DISASTER IS AGGRAVATED, AS THE SAME AREA HAS BEEN SEVERELY HIT BY DROUGHT.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

6.THE GOVERNMENT SET UP EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND MADE AVAILABLE KINA 450,000 (APPROX. USD 463,000) FOR RELIEF WORK. REASONABLE RESERVES OF SHELTER MATERIAL ARE AVAILABLE, BUT THERE MIGHT BE A REQUIREMENT FOR COOKING UTENSILS. A FRENCH MSF MEDICAL TEAM CURRENTLY IN MADANG HAVE VOLUNTEERED THEIR SERVICES AND ARE NOW ON FIELD TRIPS IN THE RAMU VALLEY AREA ADJACENT TO THE SITE OF THE QUAKE.

7.THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE FURTHER ASSESSMENTS OF THE SITUATION DURING THE COMING WEEKEND. THE NATIONAL DISASTER CENTRE IS OPEN AND CAN BE CONTACTED AS FOLLOWS: TEL. +675-276-6666, FAX.: +675-250-938, TELEX: NE 23290.

8.TO DATE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT REQUESTED INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE UN/DHA RESIDENT COORDINATOR REMAINS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH NDES TO MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL.NO.(OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917-2144
PRESS TO CONTACT: M. SKANDRANI, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3114

TELEX:414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA

DHA-GENEVA 93/0439

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - EARTHQUAKE
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO.4
19 OCTOBER 1993

SITUATION

1. A SECOND MAJOR AFTERSHOCK HIT PAPUA NEW GUINEA ON SATURDAY, 16 OCTOBER 1993, AT 1.06 PM LOCAL TIME, ABOUT 35 MILES NORTHEAST OF GOROK A. THE MAGNITUDE WAS COMPUTED AT 6.5 ON THE RICHTER SCALE. PRELIMINARY HYPOCENTER: LATITUDE 5.7 DEGREES SOUTH, LONGITUDE 145.8 DEGREES EAST, DEPTH NORMAL.

2. UN/DHA RESIDENT COORDINATOR REPORTS THAT, ACCORDING TO INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (NDES), THE DEATH TOLL REACHED 65 AS OF 18 OCTOBER 1993. A TOTAL OF 9,600 PEOPLE ARE IN A CARE CENTRE IN UPPER MARKHAM. ATTEMPTS ARE BEING MADE TO RELOCATE THE REST OF THE POPULATION FROM WORST AFFECTED AREAS. SEVEN COMMERCIALLY HIRED HELICOPTERS ARE INVOLVED IN THE EVACUATION OPERATIONS.

3. ADDITIONAL LANDSLIDES AND FLOODS HAVE INCREASED THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE IN MOROBE AND MADANG PROVINCES. DETAILED DAMAGE ASSESSMENT IS STILL UNDERWAY.

4. ACCORDING TO SCIENTIFIC ADVICE, MORE AFTERSHOCKS COULD BE EXPECTED, CAUSING FURTHER LANDSLIDES. EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE TO EVACUATE INHABITANTS IN THE AREAS AT RISK TO SAFER GROUNDS.

5. TO DATE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT REQUESTED INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE UN/DHA RESIDENT COORDINATOR REMAINS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH NDES TO MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL.NO.(OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917-2144
PRESS TO CONTACT: M. SKANDRANI, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3114

TELEX:414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA

DHA-GENEVA 93/0444

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - EARTHQUAKE
DHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO.5
21 OCTOBER 1993

SITUATION

1. ON 21 OCTOBER 1993, THE NATIONAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (NDES) CALLED A SECOND BRIEFING SESSION FOR DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND AID AGENCIES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED.

2. SEVERAL MINOR EARTHQUAKES OF 3 TO 4 DEGREES ON THE RICHTER SCALE OCCURRED FOLLOWING THE AFTERSHOCK OF 16 OCTOBER 1993. LANDSLIDES ARE STILL CONTINUING IN THE EASTERN HIGHLANDS. HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE GASES ARE EMANATING OUT OF CRACKS IN THE GROUND IN COAL MINING AREAS.

3. THE DEATH TOLL HAS BEEN REVISED TO 40 PERSONS CONFIRMED DEAD AND 21 MISSING. A TOTAL OF 1,122 HOUSES ARE DESTROYED. 24 SCHOOLS CLOSED DOWN TEMPORARILY. EVACUATION OF INHABITANTS TO SAFE LOCALITIES IS CONTINUING.

4. NDES INDICATED A NEED FOR CLOTHING, SMALL WATER CONTAINERS AND KITCHEN UTENSILS FOR THE DISPLACED POPULATION. SPONTANEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM INTERESTED DONORS WOULD BE WELCOME. A TRUST FUND FOR RELIEF AID IS BEING ESTABLISHED. THE USE BY DONORS OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE RED CROSS WAS SUGGESTED.

COUNTRY-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

5. UN/DHA RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE HAS OFFERED THE AUTHORITIES UN SYSTEM RESPONSE, IF REQUIRED. HE REPORTS THAT SEVERAL DONOR GOVERNMENTS ARE CONSIDERING THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY AID.

6. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, PLEASE INFORM DHA-GENEVA IMMEDIATELY AS INDICATED BELOW OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL.NO.(OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917-2144
PRESS TO CONTACT: M. SKANDRANI, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3114

TELEX:414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA

DHA-GENEVA 93/0451

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - EARTHQUAKE
DHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO.6
26 OCTOBER 1993

SITUATION

1. ANOTHER MAJOR EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA ABOUT 25 MILES (40 KM) SOUTH OF MADANG OR ABOUT 280 MILES (450 KM) NORTH/NORTHWEST OF PORT MORESBY AT 8:27 PM LOCAL TIME (10:27 AM GMT), 25 OCTOBER 1993. THE MAGNITUDE WAS COMPUTED AT 7.0 ON THE RICHTER SCALE. PRELIMINARY HYPOCENTRE IS LATITUDE 5.6 DEGREES SOUTH, LONGITUDE 145.9 DEGREES EAST, DEPTH NORMAL.

2. ACCORDING TO INITIAL INFORMATION, FURTHER LANDSLIDES WERE TRIGGERED IN THE MUTZING DISTRICT (APPROX. LATITUDE 6.18 DEGREES SOUTH, LONGITUDE 146.1 DEGREES EAST) AND MENYAMYA DISTRICT (APPROX. 7.12 DEGREES SOUTH, 146.08 DEGREES EAST) OF MOROBE PROVINCE. SOME RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO SAFETY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF DEATHS OR INJURIES SO FAR.

3. GOVERNMENT'S SENIOR GEOLOGIST BRIEFED THE LOCAL UN DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAM (UN-DMT) ON THE GEOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE AREA AFFECTED BY THE RECENT EARTHQUAKES. SINCE THE INITIAL SHOCK ON 13 OCTOBER 1993, SOME 1,000 AFTERSHOCKS HAVE BEEN RECORDED. FURTHER SHOCKS COULD BE EXPECTED FOR UP TO ANOTHER MONTH. THE LIKELIHOOD OF LANDSLIDES WILL INCREASE ONCE THE WET SEASON SETS IN AND EARTH SATURATED WITH RAIN AND DISLODGED BY THE EARTHQUAKES BECOMES UNSTABLE.

5.FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, PLEASE INFORM DHA-GENEVA IMMEDIATELY AS INDICATED BELOW OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL.NO.(OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917-2144
PRESS TO CONTACT: M. SKANDRANI, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3114

TELEX:414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA

DHA-GENEVA 93/0468

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - EARTHQUAKE
DHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO.7
11 NOVEMBER 1993

SITUATION

1. THE GENERAL SITUATION REMAINS RELATIVELY UNCHANGED. THE GOVERNMENT'S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DIVISION INDICATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN EARTHQUAKES OF MAGNITUDE AROUND 5 ON THE RICHTER SCALE ALMOST EVERY DAY SINCE OCTOBER 13, WITH SOME 2,000 AFTERSHOCKS BEING RECORDED. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT HOW LONG THE EARTHQUAKES AND AFTERSHOCKS WILL CONTINUE. SECONDARY RISKS EXIST DUE TO LANDSLIDES. NUMEROUS LAKES WERE FORMED BY LANDSLIDES BLOCKING RIVERS AND STREAMS WHICH LEADS TO THE FURTHER RISK OF FLOODING DURING THE RAINY SEASON.

2. OFFICIAL RECORDS INDICATE 41 CONFIRMED DEAD, 4 PEOPLE MISSING.

3. IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE POPULATION EVACUATED AND STAYING IN THREE CARE CENTRES (6,541 PEOPLE) WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN THE FINISTERRE RANGE IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. RETURN MIGHT NOT BE POSSIBLE BEFORE THE END OF THE WET SEASON (MAY 1994).

4. THE GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY COPING WELL WITH THE SITUATION. IT HAS COMMITTED K 320,000 SO FAR, WITH A FURTHER K 759,000 PLEDGED (IN TOTAL APPROX. USD 1.1 MILLION). COSTS WILL RISE IF THE SITUATION DETERIORATES FURTHER. NGOS AND PRIVATE SECTOR ARE COMPLEMENTING GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS WITH THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.

5. A JOINT GOVERNMENT/UN ASSESSMENT MISSION LED BY THE CHIEF TECHNICAL ADVISOR OF THE DHA/SOUTH PACIFIC PROGRAMME OFFICE WITH PARTICIPATION OF UNICEF, WHO, UNDP, NATIONAL DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (NDES) AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS VISITED THE AFFECTED AREA ON 2 AND 3 NOVEMBER 1993. MISSION RECOMMENDED SPECIFIC MEASURES TO IMPROVE CARE CENTRE FACILITIES AND SERVICES, IN VIEW OF EXPECTED DURATION OF EVACUATION PERIOD. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING DISASTER MITIGATION AND PREPAREDNESS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE.

6. COPY OF THE MISSION REPORT IS AVAILABLE FROM DHA-GENEVA ON REQUEST.

7. CONTRIBUTIONS (REPORTED TO DHA-GENEVA SINCE SITREP NO.6 OF 26 OCTOBER 1993)

8. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, PLEASE INFORM DHA-GENEVA IMMEDIATELY AS INDICATED BELOW OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL.NO.(OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917-2144
PRESS TO CONTACT: M.KHATIB, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-2856

TELEX:414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA