Massive Landslide in Papua New Guinea: Death Toll Exceeds 670

Massive Landslide in Papua New Guinea: Death Toll Exceeds 670 (Image: Reuters)

Dil Bar Irshad | May 26, 2024 | 11:20 PM IST | Breaking News, Floods/Landslides/Event, World | Follow on Google News

Massive Landslide in Papua New Guinea: Death Toll Exceeds 670

Massive Landslide in Papua New Guinea: Death Toll Exceeds 670

Key Highlights:

1. Over 670 people estimated dead after a landslide in Papua New Guinea.
2. More than 150 houses submerged, a significant increase from earlier estimates.
3. Rescue efforts hindered by ongoing tribal warfare and unstable terrain.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has raised the death toll from a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea to over 670, according to Al Jazeera. The updated figure was provided by Yambali village and Enga provincial officials, who reported that more than 150 houses had been submerged by the landslide, which struck on Friday.

Serhan Aktoprak, head of the UN agency’s mission in Papua New Guinea, confirmed the revised death toll on Sunday. “They are estimating that more than 670 people [are] under the soil at the moment,” Aktoprak said. The number of destroyed houses was previously estimated at 60.

The situation remains dire, with ongoing landslides and running water creating hazardous conditions for rescuers and survivors alike. Tribal warfare and the unstable earth are complicating rescue operations, forcing emergency personnel to relocate survivors to safer areas.

The landslide hit Kaokalam Village in Enga Province, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Port Moresby. Social media videos show residents climbing over large rocks and pulling bodies from the rubble and beneath trees. The landslide also blocked the access road to Porgera town, which hosts a large gold mine, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

(Inputs from ABC News)

Dil Bar Irshad

Dil Bar Irshad is a seasoned journalist, hails from Jammu Kashmir's Doda, covers political, social, business stories, index stories.