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Papua New Guinea:Tsunami:1998/07

Duration1998/07 At approximately 1930 local time on Friday 17 July 1998 an earthquake of magnitude 7 on the Richter Scale occurred just off the north-west coast of Papua New Guinea some 35 km north-west of Sissano Lagoon.
Country or DistrictPapua New Guinea
NameTsunami

Headline(Source, Date)
Personal Injury Material Damage Others
OCHA Situation Report No.9 Aug.7
・There are more than 2,100 dead.
・500 or more people are still missing.
・There are about 9200 victims.

・The Tsunami wholy destroyed the districts.
・The water receded quickly. The main impact area now presents a picture of almost total destruction, being stripped of all buildings and habitation and all vegetation except surviving mature coconut trees.

・Although the tsunami was experienced along 50 km of the coast west of the regional centre of Aitape, the worst affected area was a 25 km strip from Sissano to Malol.
Papua New Guinea: Tidal Wave Situation Report No. 3
・Deaths : 2182
・Injured : 473
・survivors : 9199



・The PNG Red Cross/International Federation, Salvation Army, Catholic Church, ADRA and World Vision are the main remaining agencies.
・The National Society and Federation, which distributed relief supplies to the homeless in six care centres, is now drafting a rehabilitation plan.


Specific Matters

  • ・After this disaster in Papua New Guinea, It's on the way from the stage of rescue to the stage of education-rebuilding for children. Long-term patient action is demanded for victims' future living.

    ・International interest in this disaster was very much, because it was very difficult to prevent from the disaster. The scale of Emergency Reliefs was quite large.

    ・From Japan, 11 members contributed to rescue victims.

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