- The landslide has buried over 150 houses and displaced at least 1,000 people.
- The disaster occurred around 03:00 local time on Friday when people were more likely to sleep.
- The military of Papua New Guinea is providing security for convoys transporting aid.
A UN official estimates that a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea has buried about 670 people.Serhan Aktoprak, head of the International Organization for Migration in Papua New Guinea, said the impact of Friday’s landslide in the isolated Enga province is greater than initially thought.
“An estimated 150-plus houses are now buried,” Mr Aktoprak said.
The affected areas lie in the highlands of Enga, located in the north of the island nation in the southwest Pacific. Mr. Aktoprak said rescuers face risks because “the land is still sliding.”
“The water is running and this is creating a massive risk for everyone involved,” he said.
Nearly 4,000 people are living in the area hit by the landslide.
However, Care Australia, the humanitarian agency assisting with relief efforts, warned that the number of affected individuals is “likely to be higher” due to an influx of people escaping tribal conflicts in neighboring areas.
The disaster has displaced at least 1,000 people. Mr. Aktoprak said the landslide almost completely wiped out gardens that provided food and water supplies. The landslide occurred around 03:00 local time on Friday (17:00 GMT on Thursday), when people were more likely to sleep.
“We still don’t know the exact number of fatalities from the landslide, and may not know for some time,” said a spokesperson for Care Australia.
“However, the time that the landslide occurred suggests that the death toll will rise.”
Mr. Aktoprak said helpers are using any means necessary to recover victims: “People are using digging sticks, spades, and large agricultural forks to remove the bodies buried under the soil.” By Sunday, they had recovered just five bodies along with the partial remains of another. Debris from the landslide, including large boulders, trees, and displaced soil, is up to 8 meters (26 feet) deep in some areas.
There is only one highway in Enga Province, and Care Australia said debris has fallen across large stretches of the road, limiting access to the rescue site. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country is ready to help “our brothers and sisters in Papua New Guinea.” According to Mr. Aktoprak, tribal violence along the key route could complicate relief efforts.
The military of Papua New Guinea is providing security for convoys transporting aid.
Mr Aktoprak said the unrest was unrelated to the landslide. “In one day alone, a total of eight persons had been killed, five business stores and 30 houses had been burnt down,” he said.
According to the World Bank, Papua New Guinea, with a population of more than 11.7 million people, holds the title of the most linguistically diverse country on Earth, boasting around 850 indigenous languages.
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