Over 2,000 people feared dead in devastating Papua New Guinea landslide

A devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea has left more than 2,000 people buried alive, according to a government official who has formally requested international help. The tragedy occurred in the mountainous interior of the South Pacific island nation, specifically at Yambali village in the Enga province.

The government figure of 2,000 buried is significantly higher than the U.N.’s estimate of 670 casualties. As of now, only six bodies have been recovered from the site of the landslide. The International Organization for Migration, which is assisting with the response efforts, has maintained its death toll estimate of 670 pending further evidence.

The challenging conditions on the ground, including the remote location of the village, lack of telecommunications, and tribal warfare in the province, have made it difficult to assess the full extent of the disaster. Relief workers require military escorts due to ongoing tribal conflicts in the region.

The government’s estimate of 2,000 buried alive has raised questions about the accuracy of the data, especially given the lack of reliable census information in Papua New Guinea. The country’s population is estimated to be around 10 million, but a U.N. study suggests it could be as high as 17 million based on satellite imagery.

The landslide has also blocked a 200-meter stretch of the province’s main highway, hindering relief efforts. The shifting ground poses ongoing dangers to both rescue teams and survivors, making the situation unstable.

Efforts are underway to provide emergency supplies to the 4,000 displaced survivors, with heavy earth-moving machinery being transported to the disaster scene. However, villagers are divided over whether to use heavy machinery to dig up the buried bodies, fearing further damage.

The government is considering whether to request additional international support as the scale of the disaster becomes clearer. The visit by government officials to the site aims to assess the needs of the affected communities and coordinate relief efforts.

The devastating impact of the landslide is expected to have long-lasting economic repercussions for the entire country. The situation remains precarious as rescue teams work tirelessly to locate and recover the victims of this tragic event.