A MAGNITUDE 6.7 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea’s mountainous Southern Highlands yesterday, killing at least 18 people, an official said, a week after a larger quake flattened villages and killed at least 55 people.

The tremor, shortly after midnight local time, struck just 31 km southwest of the epicenter of last Monday’s magnitude 7.5 quake that has left government and aid agencies scrambling to provide emergency supplies to the remote region.

Australia and New Zealand said yesterday they would increase aid to Papua New Guinea.

Australia will deploy three helicopters this week to deliver aid, while New Zealand will send a second military plane to distribute medical equipment, hygiene kits and tarpaulins.

Yesterday’s quake was the most severe of a series of aftershocks that have rattled the resource-rich region, about 600 km northwest of the capital Port Moresby.

William Bando, the administrator of Hela Province, said initial reports put the death toll from the aftershock at 18.

“It appears Hides was hardest hit. We haven’t heard about potential casualties there yet, but it is a big village with many people,” he added.

Manasseh Makiba, Papua New Guinea’s Vice Minister for Petroleum & Energy who represents parts of Hela Province in parliament, said victims were still being found.

“People are still being extracted from mud. People are still being taken to hospitals,” he said.

Local media outlets reported the death toll from the original quake had risen to 75, after government officials said previously that 55 people had been killed.

Aid efforts are being hampered as rescue workers struggle to reach the highlands area as many roads are either badly damaged or blocked. (SD-Agencies)