More than 2,000 people are feared buried alive following a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea last week, the government reported on Monday. The National Disaster Centre raised the suspected number to 2,000 in a letter to the U.N., while a separate U.N. agency estimated the death toll at over 670. The discrepancy is due to the remote location and lack of accurate population data, as PNG’s last credible census was in 2000.
The landslide struck Yambali village in the north around 3 a.m. on Friday, burying over 150 houses under debris nearly two stories high. Rescuers reported hearing screams from beneath the earth. Resident Evit Kambu recounted that 18 of his family members were buried and described feeling helpless.
Survivors are using basic tools and their hands to search for those trapped. Aid and heavy equipment have been slow to arrive due to the remote location and nearby tribal warfare, which requires aid workers to travel with military escorts. Eight people were killed and 30 houses burned down on Saturday.
The first excavator arrived late Sunday, and only six bodies have been retrieved so far. Communication is difficult due to poor reception and limited electricity. Many residents are unsure of their loved ones' whereabouts as it is common to stay at friends' and relatives' homes.
Prime Minister James Marape’s office stated the disaster is being managed by PNG emergency authorities. Marape was in the capital, Port Moresby, preparing for the return of parliament, where he faces a no-confidence motion. Rain, unstable ground, and flowing water continue to pose risks to rescue operations. Over 250 homes have been abandoned, and more than 1,250 people have been displaced. Some locals are resistant to heavy machinery entering the village during the mourning period. The chances of finding survivors are considered very slim.
