A massive landslide in Papua New Guinea’s remote Maip-Mulitaka district has buried more than 2,000 people, according to government reports released on Monday. The disaster struck at around 3 a.m. on Friday, crashing through six villages while most residents were asleep.
The National Disaster Centre provided the alarming figure in a letter to the United Nations, though a separate UN agency estimates the possible death toll at over 670 people. The discrepancy highlights the challenges in obtaining accurate information from the remote region, where treacherous terrain and limited infrastructure hamper both communication and rescue efforts.
“We are facing immense difficulties in reaching the affected areas,” a local official reported. “The last credible census was conducted in 2000, and many villagers live in isolated mountainous areas, making it hard to ascertain the exact number of people affected.”
More than 150 houses have been buried under debris nearly two stories high. Rescuers and local residents are desperately using spades, sticks, and their bare hands to sift through the rubble in hopes of finding survivors. However, more than 72 hours after the landslide, only seven bodies have been recovered.
Eyewitnesses described hearing muffled screams beneath the earth shortly after the disaster. “We could hear cries for help, but we couldn’t reach them in time,” said a local resident involved in the rescue efforts.
On Monday, the community held a funeral for one of the recovered victims. Dozens of mourners walked in a somber procession behind the coffin, their wails echoing through the devastated landscape. Footage captured by a UN official showed the profound grief enveloping the community.
Rescue operations continue, but hopes of finding additional survivors are dwindling. Authorities are appealing for international assistance to aid in recovery and support the displaced residents.
Reference(s):
Papua New Guinea says more than 2,000 people buried in landslide
cgtn.com
