As many as 2,000 people are feared to have been buried by last week’s massive landslide in Papua New Guinea, according to the National Disaster Centre.
Survivors are recounting the horror of losing so many loved ones in the disaster that occurred in the mountainous Enga region in northern Papua New Guinea on Friday.
This latest figure marks a sharp increase from earlier estimates.
Tonnes of rock and mud crashed into homes while people slept, leaving locals devastated.
Rescuers have struggled to reach this remote part of one of Asia’s poorest nations, forcing residents to dig through the debris with whatever tools they have.
Evit Kambu shared her tragic loss with Reuters: “I have 18 of my family members buried under the debris and soil that I am standing on and a lot more family members in the village I cannot count. I am the landowner here… but I cannot retrieve the bodies so I am standing here helplessly.”
Local community leader Miok Michael told the media that few survivors are expected.
“People are gathering and mourning,” he said. “People have been digging since day one but can’t locate bodies as they are covered by huge rocks. Only machines will do.”
Initially, the United Nations estimated that as many as 100 people may have died.
This figure was later revised up to 670 by the Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the country.
However, according to the latest projection from Papua New Guinea’s disaster agency, the toll is much higher.
“The landslide buried more than 2,000 people alive and caused major destruction to buildings, food gardens, and the economic lifeline of the country,” said Lusete Laso Mana, Acting Director of the National Disaster Centre, in a letter to the UN.
He added, “The situation remains unstable as the landslip continues to shift slowly, posing ongoing danger to both rescue teams and survivors alike,” noting that the main highway to the area has been completely blocked by the landslide.
Source-CNN
