SYDNEY – Local media reported over 300 people and 1,100 houses buried by a massive landslide. The incident devastated a remote village in northern Papua New Guinea.
Hundreds feared dead in Kaokalam village, Enga province, about 600km northwest of Port Moresby, in a catastrophe on May 24.
The Papua New Guinea Post Courier reported that the landslide buried over 300 people and 1,182 houses. Mr. Aimos Akem, a member of parliament, provided this information.
On May 25, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) reported that the Mulitaka region landslide impacted over six villages.
“The land continues to slide and move, and that makes it dangerous for people to operate,” he added.
Aid agencies reported that the catastrophe wiped out the village’s livestock, food gardens, and sources of clean water.
On May 25, a rapid response team, including medics, military, and police, navigated challenging terrain to reach the disaster zone.
“While the area is not densely populated, our concern is that the death toll could be disproportionately high,” humanitarian agency Care said on May 25.
Moreover, the Papua New Guinea landslide underscores the need for coordinated disaster preparedness and response efforts.
Additionally, the landslide serves as a stark reminder of the importance of investing in infrastructure and early warning systems in vulnerable areas.
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