The government of Papua New Guinea has ordered thousands of residents to evacuate from the path of a still-active landslide in the northern Enga region after parts of a mountain collapsed, burying an initial estimate of more than 2,000 people. Relief teams have been struggling to access the difficult terrain since Friday, with slim hopes of finding survivors.
Residents in the area have been using shovels and bare hands to search for survivors, but the situation remains dangerous as the landslide area is still unstable. Enga province disaster committee chairperson Sandis Tsaka described the ongoing risk, stating, “The landslide is still active, as people are digging through the rocks, more is still coming down.”
A state of emergency has been declared in the disaster zone, with military personnel setting up checkpoints and assisting with evacuations to designated centers. However, heavy equipment and aid have been slow to arrive due to the remote location and treacherous terrain.
The total number of possible deaths from the landslide remains uncertain, with varying estimates from different sources. Former head of the local government Jiman Yandam estimated 162 deaths, while the government reported more than 2,000 people buried. The lack of accurate population data in the mountainous nation has made it challenging to determine the exact toll.
As the rescue and recovery efforts continue in Papua New Guinea, the international community is closely monitoring the situation to provide support and assistance to those affected by this devastating natural disaster.