Over 670 presumed dead in catastrophic Papua New Guinea landslide
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Rescue and aid efforts are being severely hampered by the dangerous and unstable conditions in the affected area, local reports said, with only five bodies having been recovered from the rubble so far.
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In this photograph provided by the International Organization for Migration, an injured person is carried on a stretcher to seek medical assistance after a landslide in the village of Yambali, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in Papua New Guinea. (Benjamin Sipa/International Organization for Migration via AP)
More than 670 people are presumed dead following a catastrophic landslide in Papua New Guinea, according to an estimate by the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Sunday.
The massive landslide, which struck on Friday, has resulted in extensive devastation, and the true scale of the disaster is still unfolding as rescue operations face significant challenges.
Initial reports from local media in the South Pacific nation indicated that the landslide had buried over 300 individuals. But more than 48 hours after the disaster, the IOM has revised the estimated death toll to potentially over double that figure.
Rescue and aid efforts are being severely hampered by the dangerous and unstable conditions in the affected area, reports say, with only five bodies having been recovered from the rubble so far.
The IOM's death toll estimates are based on information from officials in Yambali Village, Enga province, who reported that over 150 houses were buried in the landslide. Serhan Aktoprak, the chief of the IOM mission in Papua New Guinea, provided these details in an email statement.
"Land is still sliding, rocks are falling, ground soil is cracking due to constant increased pressure, and ground water is running, thus the area is posing an extreme risk for everyone," Aktoprak said.
The disaster has forced more than 250 houses in the surrounding area to be abandoned, with approximately 1,250 people displaced. Many of the displaced have sought temporary shelter with relatives and friends.
"People are using digging sticks, spades, and large agricultural forks to remove the bodies buried under the soil," Aktoprak added.
A landslide in Papua New Guinea's Enga province has buried over 100 homes, feared to have killed hundreds. Governor Ipatas calls it an "unprecedented disaster." Rescue efforts are hindered by debris. #PapuaNewGuinea #Landslide pic.twitter.com/zxx8mc0Ddv
— RRN (@RRNmedia) May 25, 2024
The IOM reported that an elementary school, small businesses, a guesthouse, and a petrol station were buried by the landslide.
The UN's Papua New Guinea office stated that five bodies were retrieved from an area where 50 to 60 homes were destroyed, with several injured, including at least 20 women and children.
The IOM noted that the village community was relatively young, and it is feared that most fatalities are children aged 15 or younger.
Read more: Rescue teams mobilize after Papua New Guinea landslide
Social media footage posted by villagers and local media shows people climbing over rocks, uprooted trees, and mounds of dirt in search of survivors, with women weeping in the background.
⚠️🇵🇬Massive earthquake, strikes Papua New Guinea
— Todd Paron🇺🇸🇬🇷🎧👽 (@tparon) May 26, 2024
Large landslide killed at least 100 the major road going in is completely unpassable. Australia 🇦🇺is looking to send helicopters in to help the search and rescue. pic.twitter.com/trHTeolDcq
The landslide affected a section of highway near the Porgera gold mine, operated by Barrick Gold through its joint venture, Barrick Niugini Ltd, with China's Zijin Mining.
The Porgera Highway remains blocked, making helicopter the only means to reach the Porgera Gold Mine and other isolated areas in Enga Province. The remote, rugged terrain is hampering rescue and aid efforts.
While the government and PNG Defence Force engineering team are on site, heavy equipment like excavators have yet to arrive. The community may also delay the use of excavators until they feel their mourning and grieving obligations are fulfilled.
"People are coming to terms with the fact that the people under the debris are now all but lost," the IOM said.
The government plans to establish two care and evacuation centers on either side of the landslide-affected area to shelter displaced individuals.
A humanitarian convoy has begun distributing essential supplies, including bottled water, food, clothing, hygiene kits, kitchen utensils, tarpaulins, and personal protective equipment.
CARE Australia reported that nearly 4,000 people lived in the impact zone, but the actual number affected could be higher, as the area is a refuge for those displaced by nearby conflicts.
Read more: Papua New Guinea, Australia sign new police agreement
In February, tribal violence in Enga Province led to the deaths of at least 64 men, prompting Prime Minister James Marape to grant arrest powers to the military.
The landslide left debris up to 8 meters (25 feet) deep across 200 square kilometers (80 square miles), cutting off road access and complicating relief efforts.
Marape stated that disaster officials, the Defence Force, and the Department of Works and Highways are assisting with relief and recovery operations.
