On May 26, the government of Papua New Guinea officially confirmed that over 300 people have died, and 4,000 others have been affected by a landslide in a village in the country.
Kaokalam Village, located in the remote province of Enga, was flattened due to a landslide from Mount Maip Mulitaka at 3 a.m. local time on May 24. A total of 1,100 houses in six neighboring villages were impacted.
The Mugalo mountain landslide buried Kaokalam village. (Photo: AFP).
Ninga Role, a resident of Kaokalam, stated that more than 50 houses, with many people still sleeping inside, were buried when the landslide occurred. The villagers did not have time to escape. Some attempted to save their young children but were also buried alongside their families.
Mr. Role emphasized that it is very difficult to rescue any survivors. It seems nearly impossible as the landslide area is vast, with rocks and trees scattered everywhere.
Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea reported that immediately after receiving the tragic news, the government mobilized forces to the landslide site. The Papua New Guinea Defence Force, along with personnel from the Department of Works and Highways, is working hard to rescue survivors and search for the deceased. Rescue teams, along with local residents, are doing everything they can to retrieve the bodies of victims buried under rocks and fallen trees, but their efforts have been largely ineffective.
According to Serhan Aktoprak, a United Nations official in Papua New Guinea, by the end of May 25, only four bodies had been recovered from the rubble. Many houses remain buried, making them inaccessible to rescue teams. Meanwhile, the earth and rocks continue to shift, posing dangers to rescue operations.
Elizabeth Laruma, President of the Porgera Businesswomen’s Association, noted that the incident occurred at night while people were sleeping, effectively burying the entire village. The exact cause has yet to be determined, but many believe it may be linked to activities at the Porgera gold mine operated by Barrick Gold Corporation.
Rescue workers and locals at the landslide site in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea on May 26. (Photo: REUTERS).
According to the Papua New Guinea Red Cross, the death toll could rise to 500. The devastating landslide has blocked the road between Porgera and Kaokalam Village, complicating the delivery of fuel and goods. Helicopters are the only means of access to the village since the main road has been closed.
| Papua New Guinea is a country with diverse geography, where the majority of residents are subsistence farmers, speaking 800 indigenous languages. With a population of 10 million, it is also the most populous country in the South Pacific after Australia, which has approximately 27 million people. The infrastructure in Papua New Guinea is still underdeveloped, with only 1.66 million people using the internet and 85% of the population living in rural areas. |
