DFA: No Filipino hurt in Papua New Guinea quake

MANILA, Philippines — No Filipino was hurt in the recent 7.2 earthquake that hit Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed Wednesday.

The strong earthquake rocked the country at around 7.00 a.m. on Tuesday, with no immediate reports of serious damage.

READ: 7.2 quake hits Papua New Guinea, no early damage reports

The country is home to around 36,000 Fiipinos, according to DFA.

“Philippine Embassy in Port Moresby Chargé d’Affaires Mary Grace Villamayor said the Embassy is already in touch with the Filipino Community in the affected cities of Lae and Kokopo, and with the Filipino Association in PNG,” the DFA said in a statement.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) located the quake’s epicenter at around 33 kilometers from the town of Bulolo and struck at a depth of 127 kilometers (80 miles).

The DFA noted the earthquake was strong enough to be felt in Port Moresby, around 250 kilometers away from the epicenter.

No tsunami warning was issued by the USGS-linked Pacific Tsunami Warning Center after the earthquake.

Villamayor said the Embassy in Port Moresby continues to monitor the situation and “stands ready to provide necessary assistance” to Filipinos in the area.  /muf