OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Papua New Guinea - Earthquake
23 November 2000


The following information was provided by the National Disaster Management
Office (NDMO)  in Port Moresby through the OCHA Regional Disaster Response
Advisor for the Pacific.

Records of Earthquakes and Damage

1.  The following table summarizes the details of the major earthquakes
which occurred between 16 and 21 November 2000, as recorded and reported
by the Papua New Guinea Geophysical Observatory and the Rabaul Volcano
Observatory.

|---+---------------+----------------+------------+----------------|
|   |  Time (local  |    Location    |  Magnitude |      Depth     |
|   |     time)     |                |  (Richter  |   (below sea   |
|   | (+10 hrs GMT) |                |   Scale)   |    surface)    |
|---+---------------+----------------+------------+----------------|
|   |               |    Latitude    |  Longitude |                |
|   |               |  (deg south)   | (deg east) |                |
|---+---------------+----------------+------------+----------------|
| 1 | 14.54 hrs, 16 |       3.7      |    152.1   |   7.120-50 km  |
|   |      Nov.     |                |            |                |
|---+---------------+----------------+------------+----------------|
| 2 | 17.42 hrs, 16 |       5.2      |    152.9   |    7.050 km    |
|   |      Nov.     |                |            |                |
|---+---------------+----------------+------------+----------------|
| 3 | 07.02 hrs, 18 |       5.5      |    151.7   |   6.830-50 km  |
|   |      Nov.     |                |            |                |
|---+---------------+----------------+------------+----------------|
| 4 | 12.05 hrs, 18 |       5.4      |    153.4   |   6.330-50 km  |
|   |      Nov.     |                |            |                |
|---+---------------+----------------+------------+----------------|
| 5 | 16.55 hrs, 18 |       5.2      |    151.2   |   6.630-50 km  |
|   |      Nov.     |                |            |                |
|---+---------------+----------------+------------+----------------|
| 6 | 12.45 hrs, 19 |       5.5      |    151.7   |   6.830-50 km  |
|   |      Nov.     |                |            |                |
|---+---------------+----------------+------------+----------------|


2.  The first two strong earthquakes which took place on 16 November have
caused damage to properties in East New Britain, New Ireland and
Bougainville, either because of violent shaking or resulting from tsunami.
The four subsequent quakes are recorded as aftershocks. The respective
Provincial Disaster Committees are at present conducting an assessment of
physical damages occasioned by the earthquakes.  So far no casualties have
been reported and certainly the repercussions are far less serious than
those of the 1998 Aitape tsunami which struck the West Coast of Sandaun
province, decimating over 2,000 people, destroying entire villages and
leaving thousands homeless.


National and International Response

3.  As requested by the NDMO, East New Britain, New Ireland and
Bougainville are currently finalizing assessment reports for evaluation by
the NDMO. Though no request for relief assistance has yet been put to the
National Government by any of the affected provinces, the NDMO has taken
the precaution of remaining on standby and has already made arrangements
for the release and distribution of relief supplies should this become
necessary. The province of East New Britain has been organizing some
relief assistance for affected people within its boundaries.

4.  The Minister of Provincial and Local Government Affairs and the Acting
Director General of the NDMO plan to travel to East New Britain, the Duke
of York Islands and New Ireland over this weekend. Another two NDMO
officials will also visit Bougainville to conduct an assessment.

5.  No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to
date.

6.  OCHA is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in
Port Moresby as well as with relevant Government authorities, and will
revert with further information if it becomes available.

7.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-917 1234
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:  Ms. S. Metzner-Strack / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 31 31 / 40 34

Press contact:
  (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  (in NY) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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