Papua, New Guinea: At least 2000 people are trapped under rubbles after landslide

A devastating landslide occurred in Papua New Guinea on Friday, May 24th, burying at least 2,000 people under the debris, according to estimates provided by the acting director of the National Disaster Centre. The landslide occurred in the highlands of Enga, in the north of the island nation, while eyewitnesses stated that the incident happened suddenly trapping the entire village underneath.

Unfortunately, determining the exact number of fatalities has been a challenging task. However, we know that before the catastrophic incident about 3,800 people lived in the area. A spokesperson for the National Disaster Centre described the damage as "extensive" and stated that the incident had a major impact on the nation’s economy.

In addition, efforts to rescue survivors and recover bodies are ongoing, but the process is difficult due to debris up to 10m deep in some areas, blocked access, and a lack of proper equipment. The risk of a new landslide due to these efforts further complicates the situation, as Acting Provincial Police Commander Martin Kelei underlined.

To provide further assistance, the Prime Minister dispatched the defense force and emergency agencies to the area to aid in the rescue efforts. Villagers, who are currently digging with their bare hands, sticks, spades, and large agricultural forks, will now receive additional support.

Nevertheless, rescue efforts are further complicated as the landslide damaged about 200m of the only road leading to the town. Local authorities suggest that the mountain collapsed due to several weeks of heavy rain and wet conditions in the area. Therefore, residents are being evacuated as the area remains at high risk.