Landslides Bury Villages in Papua New Guinea, Hundreds of Residents Believed to Have Been Killed

Governor Peter Ipatas said the landslide disaster hit seven villages. Local residents said the death toll was almost 300 people.

AFP

A man points to the location of a landslide in Maip Mulitaka in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea, Friday (24/5/2024).

PORT MORESBY, FRIDAY — Hundreds of people are feared dead due to a landslide that buried at least seven villages in the Maip Mulitaka area, Porgera District, Porgera Province. Enga, Papua New Guinea, Friday (24/5/2024). This incident occurred at around 03.00 local time.

Ninga Role, a local resident, stated that over 50 houses were buried when the landslide hit Kaokalam Village while the occupants were sleeping. When contacted by Reuters reporters, he stated that the death toll reached 300 people, including his own male relatives and cousins.

Australian media, Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC), and local Papua New Guinea media, reported more than 100 people killed. Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea media, Post Courier, reported that more than 1,000 residents were buried alive by landslides. The landslide submerged the entire Tulipato Village in Yambali Village while all the residents were sleeping.

The landslide area is a remote village with mountainous terrain and high cliffs. Porgera District, Enga Province is about 900 kilometers northwest of Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea.

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The Papua New Guinea government authorities have not confirmed the number of casualties. Local villagers estimate that the death toll ranges from hundreds to 1,000 people. Rescue and search efforts are still ongoing in the gold mining area.

AFP

Residents gathered at the site of a landslide in Maip Mulitaka, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea, on Friday (24/5/2024). Officials and local residents expressed concerns over the high number of casualties resulting from the landslide.

The Governor of Enga, Peter Ipatas, told the AFP news agency: "The huge landslide claimed lives and destroyed homes." He said, disaster the landslide hit seven villages. "A natural disaster like this has never happened before," he said.

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, has yet to receive a complete explanation regarding the landslide situation. However, he believes that the local authorities are working hard to address the disaster.

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According to Marape, Port Moresby has sent disaster management officials, military forces, and personnel from the Department of Works and Highways to assist authorities in the affected area.

"We are sending disaster officials, the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, and the Department of Works and Highways to meet with provincial and district officials in Enga and also initiate relief efforts, body recovery, and infrastructure reconstruction," said Marape.

TANGKAPAN LAYAR

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, stated in a press release during his state visit to the Bogor Presidential Palace on March 31, 2022.

Photos and videos uploaded on social media depict the extent of the damage that has occurred. Residents can be seen climbing large rocks scattered among tree trunks and the remains of landslides to inspect the damage and search for victims.

Several photos and videos on social media show locals helping people trapped under buried houses or rubble and trying to rescue them. Some casualties were found under piles of rocks and trees.

The landslide occurred in the early hours of the morning when all the village residents were still asleep.

Several Papua New Guinea media outlets reported that a landslide has disrupted the operations of the Porgera gold mine, which is operated by Barrick Gold through Barrick Niugini Ltd, a joint venture with China's Zijin Mining. The company has not provided any statement or confirmation.

AFP

A resident looks at the location of a landslide in Maip Mulitaka in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea, Friday (24/5/2024).

Elizabeth Laruma, a women's business association activist in Porgera, revealed that village homes have been flattened with the ground. The side of the mountain has collapsed, and landslides have blocked the road between Porgera and the village.

As a consequence, the supply of fuel and goods to the city is expected to be disrupted. "The landslide occurred when people were still asleep in the early hours, and the entire village was buried," said Laruma to Australian media, ABC.

Difficult access

“There are some big rocks, plants, trees. The building collapsed. "My family's bodies are difficult to find," said Role.

Belinda Kora, an ABC reporter based in Port Moresby, said that the only way to access the area is by helicopter. Outside of Port Moresby, telecommunications in Papua New Guinea are still poor.

Government data shows that only 1.66 million out of the total population of 10 million people in Papua New Guinea use the internet. Eighty-five percent of the country's population lives in rural areas. (AP/AFP/REUTERS)