The death estimate for the enormous landslide in Papua New Guinea has drastically increased, with figures now exceeding 670, according to Serhan Aktoprak, the head of the UN Migration Agency’s mission in this South Pacific island nation. This new estimate, exceeding the initial prediction of 100 or more following Friday’s landslide, comes from the Yambali village and Enga provincial authorities’ calculations, who suggest over 150 households suffered submersion. The previous household estimate stood at 60.
By Sunday, only six bodies had been recovered. After the landslide, which occurred a few hours before daybreak Friday, rescue teams initially expressed abandonment of hope for finding more survivors amongst the 26ft deep earth and rubble.
Rescue operations are being challenged due to unstable terrain and ongoing tribal conflicts, a common occurrence in the region. As a result, survivors are being relocated to safer locations. The possibility of extracting people alive from the debris has dwindled, leading to a substantial mourning and grieving period, Aktoprak said.
Heavy-duty earth-moving machinery is yet to reach the mountainous locale located 370 miles northwest of Port Moresby, the nation’s capital. Because of the enormous landslide, which measures the size of three to four football pitches, the government is working to establish evacuation centres either side of the debris route.
Aktoprak warns that working amongst the debris is extremely perilous, and landslides are still occurring. The main road through the province has been blocked by the landslide. This, coupled with the risk of tribal conflicts, imposes threats on convoys transporting essential supplies to the afflicted village since Saturday – escort is being provided by soldiers from Papua New Guinea. On Saturday, due to an unrelated long-standing feud between two opposing tribes, eight locals were killed, resulting in approximately 30 homes and five retail stores being set alight, according to local officials.
Justine McMahon, the country director for Care International, a humanitarian agency, states that the immediate focus is moving survivors to more secure ground and ensuring their access to food, water and shelter.
Medical establishments, residential homes, numerous local enterprises, a boarding house, an educational facility, and a service station have all been subsumed, according to the authorities. It was projected by Ms McMahon that while there are more medical units in the location, the county administration is assigning healthcare professionals and the World Health Organisation is rallying its workforce. She indicated that while there would be a measure of assistance, the considerable dispersion of the area would likely make the circumstances rather demanding. The extent of this calamity is significantly massive, she added.