Hundreds feared dead after landslide in Papua New Guinea

Published May 25, 2024
View of the damage after a landslide in Maip Mulitaka in  Papua New Guinea on May 24. — Reuters
View of the damage after a landslide in Maip Mulitaka in Papua New Guinea on May 24. — Reuters

SYDNEY: Hundreds are feared dead after a massive landslide levelled dozens of homes and buried families alive in a remote village in northern Papua New Guinea (PNG) early on Friday morning.

More than 50 homes, many with people asleep inside, were buried when the landslide hit Kaokalam village around 3:00am local time.

Papua New Guinea, an island country, lies in the south-western Pacific. It comprises the eastern half of New Guinea and many small offshore islands. Its neighbours include Indonesia to the west, Australia to the south and the Solomon Islands to the southeast.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation and other local media reported that more than 100 people had been killed.

“It’s very difficult to get them out.”

One man who turned back to try and save his two children was buried along with his extended family.

Social media footage showed people clambering over rocks, uprooted trees and mounds of dirt searching for survivors. Women could be heard weeping in the background. “It’s very impossible, the area covered by the landslide is large and there are rocks and trees everywhere,” a villager said.

The village is in Enga province, about 600km north of the capital, Port Moresby.

Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement he was yet to be fully briefed, but that authorities were responding to the disaster.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

China security ties
14 Nov, 2024

China security ties

AFTER a slightly turbulent patch, during which officials publicly used uncharacteristically direct language,...
Steep price
14 Nov, 2024

Steep price

THE Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is in big trouble. A new study unveiled at the ongoing COP29 reveals that if high...
A high-cost plan
14 Nov, 2024

A high-cost plan

THE government has approved an expensive plan for FBR in the hope of tackling its deep-seated inefficiencies. The...
United stance
Updated 13 Nov, 2024

United stance

It would've been better if the OIC-Arab League summit had announced practical measures to punish Israel.
Unscheduled visit
13 Nov, 2024

Unscheduled visit

Unusual IMF visit shows the lender will closely watch implementation of programme goals to prevent it from derailing.
Bara’s businesswomen
13 Nov, 2024

Bara’s businesswomen

Bara’s brave women have proven that with the right support, societal barriers can be overcome.