Ethnic rioting in Papua New Guinea leaves 6 dead

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Rioters have burned down the homes of thousands of people in an ethnic clash in Papua New Guinea’s second-largest city. At least six people are dead, thousands are homeless and the city of Lae is being described as a ghost town.

Dominic Evere, a government research officer, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the rioting began Thursday and was sparked by the alleged rape of a young woman. He says locals burned down the homes of people who moved into the city of about 190,000 from the highlands of the Pacific island nation.

Evere says it took until Sunday for police officers to restore an uneasy calm. He said the situation remains volatile.

The Papua New Guinea Post-Courier described Lae as a “ghost town” following the riots.