The death toll in the Papua New Guinea landslide is estimated to be at least 670
At least 670 people are believed to have died since then A landslide in Papua New Guinea, according to a local United Nations official. The landslide struck a rural area of the island nation early Friday morning, but search and rescue efforts were hampered by difficulty accessing the disaster site and by the danger from the surface. Ground displacement continues to cause.
This danger has forced many survivors to flee their homes, according to Serhan Aktoprak, head of mission at the International Organization for Migration’s office in Papua New Guinea, who estimates that more than 250 houses are abandoned. and about 1,250 people were displaced.
According to local officials, this area is in Enga province, is densely populated and has a young population. Authorities fear that many of the deaths will be among children under 15 years old.
Local authorities have secured food and water for about 600 people, Aktoprak said, and a humanitarian convoy of local officials and members of the International Organization for Migration arrived in the area on Sunday. . An aid convoy passed through on Saturday afternoon bringing cloth and water, but no food.
Conditions have made distribution difficult. As of Sunday afternoon, land was still sliding, rocks falling and soil cracking due to increased pressure and flowing groundwater. Mr Aktoprak said no earthmoving equipment had been delivered and people were searching for bodies using tools such as spades and pitchforks.
The area has witnessed tribal conflict over the past few months. On Saturday morning, an argument broke out between the two clans, raising safety concerns for those traveling on the only road available. Mr. Aktoprak said eight people died in the clash and dozens of houses were burned down.
The landslide occurred around 3 a.m. Friday, hitting homes while many residents were sleeping. Some of the rocks that buried homes and cut off major highways were larger than shipping containers.
