Catastrophe in Papua New Guinea: Over 300 Feared Dead as Landslide Buries Village (See Photos)
In a devastating natural disaster, a massive landslide struck the remote village of Kaokalam in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea, leaving more than 300 people and 1,182 houses buried under rubble. The tragedy unfolded approximately 600 kilometers northwest of the capital, Port Moresby, in the early hours of Friday, with local media reporting the catastrophic event on Saturday.
The landslide, which occurred around 3 a.m. local time, has affected more than six villages in the Mulitaka region, with the potential death toll feared to be in the hundreds. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has confirmed its engagement with Papua New Guinea (PNG) authorities to assess the full extent of the damage and casualties.
Rescue efforts have been hampered by blocked highway access, necessitating the use of helicopters to reach the affected area. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that four bodies have been recovered so far, and emergency teams are bracing for the death toll to rise as they navigate the challenging terrain.
Prime Minister James Marape has announced that disaster officials, the Defence Force, and the Department of Works and Highways are actively involved in relief and recovery operations. Social media footage has captured the harrowing scenes of villagers desperately searching for survivors among the debris, with audible cries of grief in the background.
This landslide is one of the most severe natural disasters to hit Papua New Guinea in recent years, and the international community, including the United States and Australia, has expressed readiness to assist in the ongoing relief efforts³. The full impact of the disaster is still unfolding, and the world watches as the resilient people of Papua New Guinea confront this calamity.
