Emergency convoy delivers supplies to survivors of catastrophic landslide in Papua New Guinea

A devastating landslide in a remote village in Papua New Guinea has left survivors in desperate need of assistance as emergency teams rush to deliver food, water, and other provisions to the affected area.

The landslide, which occurred in Enga province, buried an estimated 60 houses and is feared to have claimed the lives of at least 100 people. However, the scale of the disaster could result in a higher death toll, according to Serhan Aktoprak, the chief of the International Organization for Migration’s mission in the country.

Only three bodies have been recovered so far from the village of Yambali, where nearly 4,000 people reside. Medical treatment has been provided to seven individuals, including a child, but the number of casualties and wounded is expected to rise significantly.

The relief effort has been hampered by the closure of the province’s main highway, which serves the Porgera Gold Mine and the town of Porgera. The landslide debris, measuring 6-to-8 meters deep, has also knocked out power in the region, posing additional challenges to the rescue operation.

Village local Andrew Ruing described the survivors’ plight as desperate, calling for assistance from the national government, businesses, and individuals. The affected community urgently needs shelters, blankets, and support for the most vulnerable members, including children, women, the disabled, and the elderly.

As the rescue operation continues, the unstable soil in the area remains a significant risk to both relief efforts and communities downstream. Papua New Guinea, a diverse nation with mostly subsistence farmers and limited infrastructure, is facing one of its worst natural disasters in recent history.