UN Concerns 670 Individuals Bury Alive in Horrific Papua Landslide

Over 670 were buried by massive landslides in Papua New Guinea's highlands. Five bodies recovered so far, but the death toll is likely much higher. Rescuers face huge challenges accessing isolated disaster sites.

Heavy soil slide on Friday morning in the mountainous region of Enga province in the southern Pacific country of Papua New Guinea is stated to have killed more than 600 people as they were buried in the landslide. Serhan Aktoprak, the Chief of Mission, at the International Organization for Migration, in Papua New Guinea, believes that approximately 670 people could potentially be buried under the soil and other structures.  

The landslide occurred at 3 am local time on Friday by which time many residents would have retired to their homes. To date, only five bodies have been retrieved with another two, which are partial remains of a body, also being found. However, rescuers fear that the number of people who lost their lives will increase significantly as the cyclone struck when people were at their work and business places.

“Now, there are more than 150 houses, at least, buried,” Aktoprak reported. ”It is still a process in which the land is sliding, and therefore the danger to the people involved in the rescue operation is very high. ” 

The area prone to the disease in the hilly region of the highlands is populated with about 4, 000 people. Other non-governmental organizations estimate that the number could have been higher since there are increased cases of people who have been forced to flee from tribal-related violence in other regions.

The landslide affected at least 1,000 people in the area; houses, gardens, food crops, and water sources for the affected families were buried by the landslide. It has been reported that the debris varies from small rocks to giant boulders and fallen trees, and in some parts reaches a depth of up to 26 feet.

One of the aid agencies helping is Care Australia which said “People are using digging sticks, spades, and large agricultural forks to remove the bodies buried under the soil. ” Machines of excavating are expected to arrive by Sunday to help the rescuers saw through the huge mountain of earth and debris.

Also Read: Desperate scramble to save lives in Papua New Guinea after a deadly landslide tears through a village

It has not been long since the scale of this catastrophe in a remote area has been determined. Although road access is very limited, humanitarian organizations have not been able to determine the full extent of the impacts. However, the UN has expressed serious concern that this could be one of the deadliest landslides witnessed in Papua New Guinea recently.