A major landslide hit “ more than six villages » located in a mountainous region of Papua New Guinea and has already caused three deaths, local authorities said on Friday, who fear a heavy human toll.
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The disaster occurred during the night from Thursday to Friday around 3 a.m. (5 p.m. UT Thursday) in the province of Enga, in the center of the archipelago. The governor of this province, Peter Ipatas, indicated that “ more than six villages » had been hit by a landslide, describing the disaster as “ unprecedented natural disaster » having caused “ considerable damage “.
He added that this slide had caused “ human losses and material damage “. “ I extend my sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. “, Papua Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement.
The National Disaster Management Office Papua New Guinea has not yet provided an assessment. A rescue team, made up of doctors, soldiers, police and members of UN agencies, was dispatched to the scene to assess the damage and treat the injured.
According to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer on site, a mixture of rocks and earth broke away from Mount Mungalo, and debris from sheet metal shelters littered the ground.
In this village, it appears that more than 100 houses were buried “, Vincent Pyati, president of a local association, told AFP. “ It is not yet known how many people were in these houses. »
Isolated area
After the disaster, dozens of people immediately set to work to find possible survivors buried under piles of stones and earth. The acting secretary general of the national branch of the Red Cross, Janet Philemon, told AFP that the landslide had taken place in an isolated area and that it would perhaps take two days for the emergency services. emergency and help to reach the area. The nearest highway, which leads to the town of Porgera, was also blocked, complicating emergency access to the affected area.
The Red Cross estimates that between 100 and 500 people may have been injured or killed in the landslide, but Ms Philemon said it was trying “ to get a more precise picture of the situation “.
The organization said it was ready to provide first aid to those affected and provide them with materials such as blankets. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong also said her government stood ready “ to participate in relief operations “.
Located just south of the equator, the region regularly experiences heavy rainfall. In March 2024, at least 23 people lost their lives when a landslide occurred in a neighboring province.