Papua New Guinea estimates over 2,000 people buried in landslide disaster

The figure was given in a letter from Papua New Guinea's National Disaster Center to the United Nations. The letter was dated May 26 and made public on May 27.

The densely populated village of Yambali in the Enga province of northern Papua New Guinea was virtually wiped out when a section of Mount Mungalo collapsed early on Sunday, burying more than 150 homes as residents slept. Relief agencies and local leaders initially feared that between 100 and 300 people had died in the mud and debris in an area the size of four football pitches and nearly two stories high. The UN later estimated the death toll at more than 670 after local leaders and disaster relief workers noted that official figures did not reflect the true number of residents in the area.

However, new figures from Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster Centre sent to the UN suggest the damage could be much greater. Aid agencies estimate that more than 1,000 people have been displaced by the disaster, while food and water supplies have been destroyed.

Meanwhile, the UN said rescuers were racing against time to search for survivors.

It has been more than three days since the disaster and rescue efforts are in a race against time, said Serhan Aktoprak, an official at the UN migration agency. However, rescuers are working in dangerous conditions. Rockfalls and groundwater flowing under the rubble have made the site extremely slippery. About 250 nearby homes have been evacuated as a precaution, the UN official said. Emergency teams, led by the Papua New Guinea defence force, are at the scene but heavy equipment needed for rescue efforts have not been able to reach the remote village because the main road remains cut off and the only access is by helicopter.

Papua New Guinea has been hit by a series of earthquakes, floods and landslides since the start of the year, making it harder for emergency services and rescue workers to get help. The government remains focused on clearing debris and opening roads to villages, preparing to transport and distribute food and water, and helping to set up temporary shelters for evacuees.

On May 27, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles said the government had discussed providing assistance to Papua New Guinea in recent days. Speaking on ABC television, Richard Marles said Australia could provide air transport support for search and rescue efforts. Decisions on assistance would be made based on the actual situation and through discussions with the neighboring government.