UN Estimates Over 670 Dead in Papua New Guinea Landslide
Port Moresby, The Gulf Observer: The death toll from a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is estimated to surpass 670, an official from the International Organization for Migration reported on Sunday.
Serhan Aktoprak, chief of the United Nations (UN) migration agency’s mission in the South Pacific island country, stated that the scale of the impact was much greater than initially thought. In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Aktoprak revealed that more than 150 houses might be buried under debris up to six to eight meters deep, with over 670 people potentially having lost their lives.
The area surrounding the disaster zone in Enga province remains perilous, with incessant rockfalls and continuous landslides prompting the evacuation of about 1,250 survivors. The landslide struck at approximately 3:00 a.m. local time on Friday, devastating a remote region in Enga province, located over 600 kilometers northwest of PNG’s capital, Port Moresby.
The UN office in PNG issued a statement on Saturday, expressing its deepest condolences to the victims and their families in the Lagaip Porgera District of Enga province. “While the total number of casualties is yet to be determined, preliminary reporting indicates the death toll may be significant. Search and rescue efforts are underway, although continuous landslides and falling boulders are affecting these efforts,” said a spokesperson.
