Papua New Guinea

An earthquake of 7 magnitude struck off Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, but there were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage, reported Reuters. 

The quake, the latest in a series in the region over recent days, struck 180 km west of the town of Rabaul, on New Britain island, at a shallow depth of 10 km, the USGS said.

At least 18 people died in an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale in Papua New Guinea, local authorities said.

The earthquake occurred on Tuesday in a remote mountain area, about 600 km from the capital, Port Morsby. It was followed by two secondary quakes with a magnitude above 5 on the Richter that forced people to leave their homes due to landslide fears.

Aid workers in Papua New Guinea say the death toll from last week's 7.5 earthquake has reached at least 67, as the country's remote highlands were again rocked by strong aftershocks, The Guardian writes.

An earthquake of 6 on the Richter scale shook central parts of Papua New Guinea just weeks after another powerful earthquake whose victims are now more than 30 people, reported RIA Novosti.

The epicenter of the earthquake yesterday was 83 km southwest of the city of Porghira. So far, there have been no reports of casualties and destruction.

Communication blackouts and blocked roads hampered rescue efforts yesterday as Papua New Guinea struggled to assess the damage from a massive earthquake which has forced oil and gas fields to close in a blow to the economy.

The United Nations called on Australia on Tuesday to take responsibility for around 800 refugees and asylum seekers stranded in a detention center on Papua New Guinea where it said many lack medical and mental health care, according to Reuters. 

The United Nations refugee agency called for calm on Thursday after receiving reports of force being used to remove refugees and asylum-seekers from a center closed three weeks ago on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, reported Reuters. 

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The UN's refugee agency has urged Australia to avert a "humanitarian emergency" over the closure of its detention centre in Papua New Guinea, reported BBC. 

Australia holds refugees and asylum seekers arriving by boat on PNG's Manus Island and the Pacific nation of Nauru.

Australia will accept several dozen Central American refugees within the next few months, two sources familiar with the process told Reuters, the first transfers under a controversial refugee swap arrangement agreed with the United States.