A devastating landslide struck Papua New Guinea’s highlands early on Friday, with many feared dead. The disaster occurred at 3 AM local time in the remote Enga province’s Kaokalam village, burying over 100 homes, according to AFP.
The exact number of casualties remains unknown.
Provincial governor Peter Ipatas told the news agency that the landslide had resulted in “loss of life and property.”
Photos circulating on social media reveal a significant chunk of rock and soil detaching from the thickly forested hill. A large swath of car-sized boulders, fallen trees, and dirt extended down to the valley floor. Other images showed remnants of houses and corrugated tin shelters at the base of the enormous landslide.
In an interview with Reuters, community leader Andrew Ruing mentioned that people were asleep when the landslide hit. “More than 300 lives have been engulfed by the debris and rocks,” he stated. “Food, gardens, homes, and valuable properties worth millions have been buried under all this,” he added.
“Survivors Tasked with Clearing the Rubble”
Survivors were heard crying, shouting for help, or standing in shock as they scanned the scene. Some immediately began working with axes and machetes, equipped with headlamps, to clear debris and search for more survivors.
Aid organizations like the Papua New Guinea Red Cross and CARE have acknowledged the landslides but are still working to gather more details.
Care Australia, a humanitarian group, stated: “Although the area has a sparse population, we fear that the death toll might be unusually high.” The organization also mentioned that clearing the roads will take considerable time, which will impede assessment and relief efforts, as reported by the BBC.
Located just south of the equator, Papua New Guinea frequently experiences heavy rainfall. This island has faced significant rain and flooding, particularly this year.
