More Than 2,000 Buried Alive in Papua New Guinea Landslide

Thursday, 23 January 2025

More Than 2,000 Buried Alive in Papua New Guinea Landslide

Author: Pradhnya Anindya Dewanti
May 28, 2024

More Than 2,000 Buried Alive in Papua New Guinea Landslide. (Photo: AP)

SEAToday.com, Enga Province - Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster said on Monday (5/27) that as many as 2,000 people are believed to be buried alive by the massive landslide that struck Yambali Village, Enga Province, on Friday (5/24). This figure stands in stark contrast to the UN's initial estimate of 670 casualties.

Determining the scale of the disaster is difficult. The village's remote location in Papua New Guinea's mountainous terrain presents challenges for both communication and transporting relief workers and essential aid.

The landslide further complicates rescue efforts by burying a 200-meter stretch of the province's main highway under 6 meters of debris. Locals have begun digging with farming tools, but the sheer number of boulders necessitates heavy machinery for effective recovery.

International assistance has been formally requested by the government because only six bodies have been recovered as of Tuesday (5/28).