Whole villages were flattened and water sources spoiled by a powerful earthquake on February 26th that killed at least 20 people, residents said on Wednesday as rescuers struggled to reach the hardest-hit areas in Papua New Guinea’s remote, mountainous highlands.

The magnitude 7.5 quake rocked the rugged Southern Highlands province some 560 km (350 miles) northwest of the capital, Port Moresby, triggering landslides, damaging mining, gas and power infrastructure, and cutting communications.

Most of the confirmed fatalities were in or around the provincial capital of Mendi, where television pictures showed collapsed buildings and landslides, and the town of Tari, according to authorities and residents contacted by Reuters.

Pray for those affected by the quake and especially the bereaved.

Pray for the relief efforts and for the authorities as they approach rebuilding the villages and infrastructure.

More at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-papua-quake/papua-new-guinea-officials-say-whole-villages-flattened-by-deadly-quake-idUSKCN1GC0C9