Hundreds killed in avalanche in Papua New Guinea – DW – 05/25/2024

At least 300 people were buried in an avalanche of earth in a remote village in northern Papua New Guinea in the early hours of Friday morning, where a strong earthquake struck two months ago, according to local media in the country. Although there are still no official sources from the authorities due to the difficulty of access to the place and erratic communications in the country, local newspaper Post Courier quoted MP Amos Eken, who asked the government for help in rescue efforts after the landslide buried “at least 300 people” in the town of Kaoklam.

The MP said at least 1,182 houses were buried in the natural disaster that struck Enga province, about 600 kilometers northwest of the capital, Port Moresby. According to Australian state channel ABC, despite the large number of victims, few bodies have been recovered, as machinery was needed to remove the buried rocks and soil in the village.

Care Australia, an NGO based in Papua New Guinea, indicated in a statement sent to Efe on Friday that the access road to the village was blocked and “will take a considerable amount of time to clear,” which would delay aid efforts and the arrival of information about the victims. The NGO said that despite the difficulties, a rescue team of Papuan authorities has arrived at the scene to evaluate the situation and assist victims. “Although the area is not densely populated, our concern is that the death toll is very high,” the statement said.

Witnesses told the ABC that they fear new landslides in this mountainous region and have asked the government to send aid to guarantee the safety of towns in the region. According to the Australian station, the only way to reach the area is by helicopter. Prime Minister James Marape said disaster officials, the defense force and the Department of Public Works and Highways were assisting in relief and recovery efforts.

According to Elizabeth Laruma, a neighbor quoted by the Australian network, the houses were buried when a sudden avalanche came down from a nearby mountain, catching locals by surprise while they were asleep. This woman said that “the whole town has disappeared.”

LGC (EFE, RTR)