SYDNEY. A catastrophic landslide has buried more than 300 people and destroyed over 1,100 houses in northern Papua New Guinea, according to local media reports on Saturday.
The disaster struck Kaokalam village in Enga Province, approximately 600 km (370 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby, at around 3 a.m. on Friday (1900 GMT on Thursday). The Papua New Guinea Post Courier reported that the landslide leveled the remote village, citing comments from Aimos Akem, a member of the country’s parliament. Akem has not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comment via social media.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed that the landslide impacted more than six villages in the Mulitaka region of Enga Province. “Australia’s High Commission in Port Moresby is in close contact with PNG authorities for further assessments on the extent of the damage and casualties,” a DFAT spokesperson said in a statement.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Saturday that four bodies had been recovered after emergency teams reached the sparsely populated area. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
The landslide has blocked highway access, leaving helicopters as the only means to reach the affected area, ABC reported. Social media footage shared by villager Ninga Role depicted people scrambling over rocks, uprooted trees, and mounds of dirt in a desperate search for survivors, with the sounds of women weeping in the background.
Prime Minister James Marape stated that disaster officials, the Defence Force, and the Department of Works and Highways are actively involved in the relief and recovery efforts.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
