ENGA PROVINCE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA – More than 670 people are believed dead after a massive landslide obliterated a hillside village in Papua New Guinea’s Enga province. The disaster struck in the early hours of Friday morning, burying numerous homes and their sleeping occupants.

UN migration agency representative Serhan Aktoprak reported that “670-plus people are assumed dead” and that “there are an estimated 150-plus houses now buried.” The ongoing landslide and continuous water flow have created perilous conditions for both survivors and rescuers.

Perilous Search and Rescue Efforts

Villagers and aid workers have faced treacherous conditions in their search for survivors. The terrain is unstable, with rocks and mud still sliding, posing a significant risk. Disaster worker Omer Mohamud described the scene as “horrible,” with traumatized villagers using basic tools to search for the trapped bodies.

Challenges Hampering Aid

The search and rescue operations have been severely hampered by damaged roads, difficult terrain, and nearby tribal violence. Over 1,000 people have been displaced, and essential resources like food gardens and water supplies have been devastated.

The scale of the disaster has led to an urgent call for machinery to assist in uncovering bodies. “The destruction is massive,” said Nickson Pakea, president of the nearby chamber of commerce.

Impact and Response

The affected village, located on Mount Mungalo, was a bustling hub for alluvial gold miners and traders, with a transient population that could swell to over 4,000 people. The landslide, which spanned almost four football fields in length, was initially believed to have killed between 100 to 300 people. However, the death toll has risen as local leaders and disaster workers recalculated the population.

Tribal Violence Complicates Access

Tribal violence has further complicated access to the disaster site. In one recent incident, eight people were killed, and numerous stores and houses were burned. The Papua New Guinea military is providing security escorts for aid convoys to ensure safe passage.

Causes and Climate Impact

Locals attribute the landslide to heavy rains that have saturated the region in recent weeks. Papua New Guinea is known for its wet climate, with intense rainfall patterns that can trigger such disasters. Climate change is believed to be exacerbating these risks, with shifting rainfall patterns leading to increased landslides.

This year has seen severe rainfall and flooding across Papua New Guinea, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness and climate resilience measures in the region.