Papua New Guinea landslide buries thousands, officials say. What to know
Global News
Local authorities said more than 2,000 people were buried alive by the landslide in Enga province, more than three times the death toll estimated by the U.N.
A massive landslide that local officials say buried thousands of people in a remote area of Papua New Guinea last week has prompted an international response, with partners set to meet Tuesday to determine how best to help.
The Papua New Guinea government told the United Nations in a letter dated Sunday that more than 2,000 people were buried alive by the landslide, which caused “major destruction” in Yambali village in Enga province, according to the Associated Press and Reuters.
The U.N. has estimated at least 670 people are dead but said that number will change as rescue efforts continue over the next several days. Those efforts are being hampered by “the site’s remoteness, ongoing terrain movement and damage to access roads,” the agency said Monday, as well as tribal warfare predating the disaster.
The Enga provincial authority has reported only five bodies have been recovered so far.
“We know that the number of casualties is going to be very high,” Nicholas Booth, the U.N. Development Programme representative for Papua New Guinea, told Global News in an interview from the national capital of Port Moresby on Tuesday.
“This was a catastrophic, very serious event.”
Global Affairs Canada said Monday it has received “one general enquiry related to this event and we are closely monitoring the situation,” but did not provide more information. The department said there are 144 registered Canadian citizens in Papua New Guinea.
“Our thoughts are with all of those affected,” a spokesperson told Global News in a statement.
