Papua New Guinea landslide death toll over 670, says UN as more bodies recovered from site

Emergency teams, on Sunday (May 26) pulled out three more bodies from the rubble of the massive landslide which levelled a remote village in northern Papua New Guinea. The United Nations official told news agency AFPthat more than670 people are believed to have died due to the disaster.

This comes after the UN hadwarned ofthe death toll rising further ashundreds are feared trapped under the rubble. Also, tribal violence in the nearby area has furthercomplicated recovery efforts, according to aid workers.

'150-plus houses buried'

"There are an estimated 150-plus houses now buried, and 670-plus people are assumed dead," said Serhan Aktoprak, UN migration agency official.

The UN migration agency (IOM), on Sunday, said that the landslide buried more than 100 houses, an elementary school, small businesses and stalls, a guesthouse, and a petrol station.

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A landslide hit Kaokalam village in Enga Province which is around 600 kilometres northwest of the capital of the Papua New Guinea capital city of Port Moresby around 3:00 am (local time), on Friday (May 24).

IOM’s chief of mission in Papua New Guinea, Serhan Aktoprak had earlier said that the “number of injured and missing are still not known”.

Meanwhile, the UN Papua New Guinea office said three bodies were retrieved from an area where dozens of houses had been destroyed and six people, including a child, were pulled from the rubble alive.

Aid group CARE Australia, late Saturday, said nearly 4,000 people lived in the impact zone but the number of those impacted may be higher since the place was also a “refuge for those displaced by conflicts” in nearby areas.

Earlier, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said the landslide had impacted more than six villages.

Tribal violence hinders rescue efforts

UN official, Aktoprak said tribal fighting had broken out along the only remaining route into the disaster zone and while the violence is “not related” to the landslide Papua New Guinea’s military was providing a “security escort” to ensure the safe passage of aid convoys.

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At least 26 men were killed in Enga Province, earlier this year, in an ambush amid tribal violence which prompted PNG Prime Minister James Marape to give arrest powers to the country’s military.

Speaking about the concerns of a UN emergency response team working in Enga IOM’s chief of mission in Papua New Guinea also said that working across the debris is “very dangerous and the land is still sliding”.

A report by AFP citing officials said at some points, the landslide – a mix of car-sized boulders, uprooted trees and churned-up earth – was thought to be eight metres deep.

Much-needed heavy machinery was also expected to arrive at the site on Sunday, reported the news agency.

World leaders react

United States President Joe Biden said he was “heartbroken by the loss of life and devastation”and that the US was “ready to assist” in recovery efforts with partners including Australia and New Zealand.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese said that “all Australians grieve for our brothers and sisters in Papua New Guinea after the terrible landslide”.

(With inputs from agencies)