In a tragic turn of events, a massive landslide has devastated the remote village of Kaokalam in Papua New Guinea, leaving over 670 people feared dead. The catastrophe, which occurred early Friday morning, has left the South Pacific island nation grappling with a humanitarian crisis of significant proportions.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) revised the death toll from an initial estimate of 100 to over 670, based on calculations by local officials that more than 150 homes had been buried. "They are estimating that more than 670 people (are) under the soil at the moment," said Serhan Aktoprak, the chief of the U.N. migration agency’s mission in the South Pacific island nation.
The landslide reportedly struck at around 3 a.m., burying many residents while they were still asleep. The scale of the disaster is immense, with the debris field compared to the size of three to four football fields. The landslide has also cut off the main highway through the province, hampering rescue efforts and raising concerns about the supply of essential goods.
The United States President, Joe Biden, expressed his condolences and pledged support for the rescue and recovery efforts. "Jill and I are heartbroken by the loss of life and devastation caused by the landslide in Papua New Guinea," Biden said. "Our prayers are with all the families impacted by this tragedy and all the first responders who are putting themselves in harm’s way to help their fellow citizens."
The disaster has also impacted the operations at the Porgera gold mine, run by Barrick Gold through Barrick Niugini Ltd, a joint venture with China's Zijin Mining. However, a spokesperson stated that it was too soon to know whether there had been any damage to the mine.
Papua New Guinea, a diverse, developing nation of mostly subsistence farmers with 800 languages, is the most populous South Pacific nation after Australia. The country is frequently subjected to heavy rains, leading to landslides and flooding. This year has been particularly intense, with a landslide in a nearby province killing at least 23 people in March.
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