7 Jan 2009

Papua again hit by quake following major weekend tremors

3:37 pm on 7 January 2009

There has been another sharp earthquake in Indonesia's Papua region where thousands of people continue to be hit by a series of aftershocks following last Sunday's major tremors.

The latest quake measured 6.1 on the Richter scale.

Many residents are reported to be too frightened to return to their homes and are opting to stay in cramped makeshift shelters.

Hundreds of aftershocks have continued to rattle the area which at first had been hit by 7.6- and 7.5-magnitude quakes that cut power and prompted a brief tsunami warning.

Reports say five people were killed in the quakes which also flattened hundreds of buildings.

The West Papua Governor, Abraham Atururi, says there are 14,000 refugees and there are only 17 camps for the displaced in the provincial capital, Manokwari.