In a remote region of Papua New Guinea, a devastating landslide has left more than 100 people feared dead, with rescue efforts being severely hampered due to the area's isolation. The village of Kaokalam in Enga Province, home to nearly 4,000 people, was struck by the disaster in the early hours of the morning, burying sleeping residents under a massive debris field.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the country has reported that the debris, which is approximately the size of three to four football fields, is obstructing the province's main highway, further complicating relief efforts. "The debris is as big as approximately three to four football fields, and is blocking the lifeline of the province’s main highway, which is making the relief efforts all the more difficult," Serhan Aktoprak, Chief of Mission for the IOM in the country, told CNN.
The local community has been making desperate attempts to reach survivors, using whatever tools they have at their disposal. Janet Philemon, Caretaker and National Treasurer of the Papua New Guinea Red Crescent Society (PNGRCS), told CNN that the number of people killed or missing is "very fluid," but more than 100 are believed to be dead.
The disaster's cause is still under investigation, but an earthquake that hit the area a few days prior is believed to have contributed to the landslide. The aftermath footage showed a wide scar of mud and rocks on a steep mountainside slope, with locals scrambling to look for survivors.
Prime Minister James Marape extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the landslide disaster. His government has dispatched officials from the country’s disaster agency, defense force, and Department of Works and Highways to coordinate with Enga’s provincial and district authorities for rescue and relief efforts, as well as the reconstruction of infrastructure.
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