Massive Landslide In Papua New Guinea Buried Over 2,000 People Alive

The National Disaster Centre announced that a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea buried over 2,000 people alive. The risk of few survivors being found is increased by the hazardous terrain and the challenge of transporting relief to the spot.

The local authorities’ estimations of the number of people buried around Yambali village in the northern province of Enga have been climbing rapidly since Friday’s avalanche.

A UN agency estimated the death toll on Sunday to be above 670.

In a Sunday letter to the UN that was made public on Monday, the National Disaster Centre increased the death toll once more to 2,000. It added that the landslip seriously damaged food gardens and buildings as well.

“The situation remains unstable as the landslip continues to shift slowly, posing an ongoing danger to both the rescue teams and survivors alike,” the letter states.

CARE International PNG country director Justine McMahon told ABC television on Monday that some 4,000 people lived close to the impacted area.