Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate a remote region in Papua New Guinea, where a massive landslide is feared to have buried more than 2000 people. Officials state that the area remains unstable, with huge rocks and debris still falling. The initial landslide occurred four days ago, and the conditions continue to hinder recovery efforts as crews face challenges in reaching the affected area.
The evacuation orders have impacted over 7,000 individuals due to the ongoing movement of the landslide. Government sources confirm that the situation remains precarious, with eyewitnesses observing further land slippage. The risk to life persists, prompting the urgent relocation of thousands of residents.
The tragic incident unfolded in a densely populated village situated in a remote part of Enga province in northern Papua New Guinea. The village served as a vital transit point, hosting essential facilities such as shops, a school, a church, a gas station, and a lodge. The village's location along a major highway, considered the region's lifeline, attracted a significant population.
The death toll has steadily risen from an initial count of 100 on Friday to 600-700 over the weekend. In the past 24 hours, the toll surged dramatically, with over 2,000 individuals believed to have been buried alive. However, the unstable nature of the site has impeded the deployment of heavy machinery for rescue operations.
Rescuers and villagers are resorting to manual tools like shovels and sticks, along with their bare hands, in a challenging bid to locate bodies. The current focus is on recovery efforts, with six bodies recovered thus far. While two individuals were miraculously rescued early on, the primary objective now is to retrieve the deceased from what has effectively become a mass grave spanning a nine-hectare area of debris.
