Landslide Papua New Guinea: A massive landslide has occurred in Kaokalam village in Enga province of Papua New Guinea. ABC News reported on Friday that more than 100 people are estimated to have died in this disaster, as a large number of people are buried under the ground. Villagers have recovered a large number of bodies from the site of the incident. At present, the official death toll in this accident has not yet been released.
ABC News reported that the landslide occurred at around 3 am in Kaokalam village in Enga province, about 600 km northwest of Port Moresby. The Enga provincial administration says it has formed an emergency action team to quickly assess the damage caused by the accident. The team has asked local health facilities and NGOs to be ready to assist in relief efforts.
The village was situated on the slope of the hill
Local residents say people were sleeping when the accident occurred. The current death toll is above 100, although the government has not released an official number of those killed by the landslide. Elizabeth Laruma, president of the Porgera Women in Business Association, said Kaoklam village is situated on a hillside, and the houses were buried under mud and trees when the mountainside slid.
Landslide during sleep time
Laruma said, ‘It happened when people were sleeping early in the morning and the whole village was asleep.’ Elizabeth Laruma said, ‘From what I can estimate, more than 100 people are buried under the ground.’ Papua New Guinea Police has not responded to ABC’s questions. Ninga Rol, a resident of Kaoklam village, said that he is studying at Madang University, he got news of the damage this morning.
Bodies being pulled out from the rubble
Ninga Roll said at least four of her relatives were killed in the landslide. “I am very sad and I feel sorry for the whole community,” she told ABC. They have lost their loved ones and their properties. Residents of the village say it is difficult to find the bodies. Videos shared on social media show residents climbing huge rocks and pulling out bodies from under debris and trees.
Porgera city road closed
Villagers say that many big stones and trees have fallen. Many buildings have collapsed, due to which it is difficult to quickly remove the bodies. The landslide has also blocked the access road to the city of Porgera, where there is a large gold mine. Due to the blockage of the road, there is a problem in delivering essential goods to the village. This landslide is also affecting the city of Porgera and the people working in the gold mine.
JUST IN: Huge landslide hits remote village in Papua New Guinea, killing at least 100 people – ABC pic.twitter.com/eX3nLaEdsL
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