Over 30 die after 7.5-magnitude quake hits PNG

SYDNEY, Feb 27 (Xinhua): Over 30 people are thought to have died Tuesday, following Monday's massive 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck 96 km south-west of Mendi, in the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.

Although full details are still unclear, local newspaper PNG Post Courier reported that 13 people were killed in the city of Mendi, while 18 more lost their lives in the nearby areas of Kutubu and Bosave.

News sources also said that around 300 people were injured during the 35 km deep tremor.

"The scale of damage, from information we are getting from the ground, is quite extensive," Hela governor Philip Undialu told local media.

"It's going to be a massive recovery exercise."