Emergency Convoy Delivers Aid to Survivors of Papua New Guinea Landslide

Emergency Convoy Delivers Aid to Survivors of Devastating Landslide in Papua New Guinea

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An emergency convoy was delivering food, water, and other provisions Saturday to stunned survivors of a landslide that devastated a remote village in the mountains of Papua New Guinea and was feared to have buried scores of people, officials said.

The landslide, which occurred in Enga province a few hours before dawn Friday, buried an estimated 60 houses and is believed to have claimed the lives of at least 100 people, according to Serhan Aktoprak, the chief of the International Organization for Migration’s mission in the South Pacific island nation.

Aktoprak expressed concern that the death toll could be even higher given the scale of destruction. 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 located 600 kilometers (370 miles) northwest of the capital, Port Moresby.

Medical treatment was provided to seven people, including a child, with fears that the number of casualties and wounded could increase dramatically, Aktoprak said.

Prime Minister James Marape pledged to release information about the scale of the destruction and loss of life as soon as it becomes available. All food gardens sustaining the village’s subsistence farming population were destroyed, and the three streams providing drinking water were buried by the landslide, which also blocked the province’s main highway.

A convoy carrying essential supplies left the provincial capital of Wabag to reach the devastated village, 60 kilometers (35 miles) away. The survivors, in desperate need of assistance, are calling on the national government, businesses, and individuals for help.

Relief efforts are being targeted at the most vulnerable, including children, women, and disabled and older people, with a focus on providing shelters, blankets, food, and water. The relief effort was initially delayed by the closure of the province’s main highway and the loss of power in the region due to the landslide debris.

The United States and Australia have expressed readiness to assist in responding to the disaster, with President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offering their condolences and support to Papua New Guinea.

As the relief effort continues, the unstable soil poses risks to both the relief operation and communities downhill. Papua New Guinea, a diverse nation of mostly subsistence farmers with 800 languages, faces significant challenges in the aftermath of this devastating natural disaster.

The international community stands in solidarity with Papua New Guinea during this difficult time, offering support and assistance to those affected by the tragic landslide.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.