The scale of destruction and loss of life in Papua New Guinea’s landslide survivors was “unprecedented”

An emergency convoy was going to deliver food, water, and other items to the survivors of the village that was swallowed by a huge amount of mud and rock from a mountain.

An assessment team reported “suggestions” that 100 people were dead and 60 houses buried by the mountainside that collapsed in Enga province a few hours before dawn Friday, said Serhan Aktoprak, the chief of the International Organization for Migration’s mission in the South Pacific island nation.

“The scale is so big, I wouldn’t be surprised if there would be more casualties than the earlier reported 100,” Aktoprak said. “If 60 houses had been destroyed, then the number of casualties would definitely be much higher than the 100.”

Only three bodies had been recovered by early Saturday from the vast swath of earth, boulders and splintered trees that struck Yambali, a village of nearly 4,000 people that is 600 kilometers (370 miles) northwest of the capital, Port Moresby.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said Friday he would release information about the scale of the destruction and loss of life when it becomes available.

The food gardens that sustain the village’s subsistence farming population were destroyed and three streams that provide drinking water were buried by the collapse of a wall of dirt.

In a video posted by Australian Broadcasting Corp., Ruing said that such a situation had never happened in history. We need assistance from the national government, people on the ground, the business houses, wherever we can get it.

Aktoprak said that besides food and water, the villagers had an urgent need for shelters and blankets. Relief would be targeted to the most vulnerable, including children, women, and disabled and older people, he said.

Source: Emergency convoy reaches survivors of a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea

Australian Prime Minister Biden and the Papua New Guinea Disaster Center are in full control. The loss of life and missing persons in the Porgera landslide

The relief effort was delayed by the landslide closing the province’s main highway, which serves the Porgera Gold Mine and the neighboring town of Porgera.

The United States and Australia are building closer defense ties with the strategically important nation, where China is seeking closer security and economic ties.

Biden, who was to become the first sitting U.S. president to visit Papua New Guinea a year ago but canceled the trip to focus on a debt crisis in Congress, said he was heartbroken by the loss of life and devastation.

“Our prayers are with all the families impacted by this tragedy and all the first responders who are putting themselves in harm’s way to help their fellow citizens,” Biden said in a statement.

All Australians are grieving for their brothers and sisters inPNG after a terrible landslide.

Papua New Guinea Defense Minister Billy Joseph and the government’s National Disaster Center director Laso Mana were flying from Port Moresby by helicopter to Wabag on Sunday to gain a firsthand perspective of what is needed.

McMahon thinks it will be a challenging situation, but there will be some support. “The scale of this disaster is quite immense.”

McMahon said there were other health facilities, the World Health Organization was in the region, and the provincial government was sending health workers.

The numbers of injured and missing were still being assessed on Sunday. Seven people including a child had received medical treatment by Saturday, but officials had no details on their conditions.

The International Organization for Migration revised its death toll to over 700, from its previous estimate of more than 200.

The revised death toll was based on the calculations of Yambali village and the provincial officials, according to Serhan Aktoprak. 60 homes was the previous estimate.

Survival in the devastated village of Wabag, Papua New Guinea, after a devastating landslide on Saturday: UN estimates more than 670 killed in papua new guinea

Rescuers were moving survivors to safer ground on Sunday because unstable ground was threatening the rescue effort in the country’s Highlands.

The main highway through the province was cut off by a large swath of debris, which prompted government authorities to set up safety centers on either side of the debris.

The convoy that has transported food, water, and other essential supplies since Saturday to the devastated village 60 kilometers from the provincial capital Wabag has faced risks related to tribal fighting in the village halfway along the route. The convoys were being guarded by soldiers from the Newguinean army.

Eight locals were killed in a clash between two rival clans on Saturday in a longstanding dispute unrelated to the landslide. The local officials said that a number of homes and businesses were burned down.

Aktoprak said he didn’t think tribes would target the convoys, but that criminals could use the chaos to their advantage.

“This could basically end up in carjacking or robbery,” Aktoprak said. It is important for the security of personnel and goods, as well as for the chaos to not be used as a means to steal.

Longtime tribal warfare has cast doubt on the official estimate that almost 4,000 people were living in the village when a side of Mount Mungalo fell away.

Source: UN estimates more than 670 killed in Papua New Guinea landslide

The United States and Australia are willing to do more to help the natural disasters of the earthquake-affected communities – comments of McMahon

Justine McMahon, country director of the humanitarian agency CARE International, said moving survivors to “more stable ground” was an immediate priority along with providing them with food, water and shelter. The military was leading the way.

The US and Australia are two countries that have publicly stated their willingness to do more to help responders.