Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Earth Quakes

We just felt a 7.3 magnitude earthquake here in PNG. All is ok in Lae, since it was 89 km south-west of here, although there was a lot of shaking and things falling off shelves, and we ran out of the house, just in case. We're not sure yet how those are doing who were nearer to the epi-centre.

This earthquake hit also at a time of political upheaval as on Tuesday a Supreme Court decision reinstated Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister, even though 109 MPs refused to drop their support for Peter O'Neill, who was voted in by parliament on August 2, 2011 (because Somare had been away in Singapore for many months for serious medical treatment). Somare is urging police to remain neutral and do their utmost to maintain peace, law and order. In effect, we really have two Prime Ministers right now, one supported by Parliament and the other by a Supreme Court decision.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging...

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Psalm 46

4 comments:

Disaster Report said...

Nice to hear you from lae. I am too updating information and following this earthquake. Hope everything is OK there..getting that the epicenter is very remote!! r u well updated with the news!! It would be better if update news would be flashed from epicenter area!! I am search of it!! god bless
http://disaster-report.blogspot.com/2011/12/very-strong-but-deep-earthquake-stuck.html

Denise said...

We remember you all in our prayers. May God be with all affected by the earthquake, and other unrest. Bryant & Denise

carla said...

Thanks for a quick update..we'll never forget feeling one while we were there.Scary for the kids too....

malcolm said...

Thanks for the update. Blessings to you all - hard to imagine - everyone in Ottawa was concerned when we experienced a 5.0 last year... your 7 was 100 times worse!!

malcolm