Thousands told to flee amid fears of second landslide in Papua New Guinea

About 8,000 people were ordered to leave the affected area Photo: Juho Walta/AP

Thousands of people were ordered to flee the area of ​​a major landslide in Papua New Guinea amid fears a second wave of debris could cause even more destruction.

An estimated 2,000 villagers were buried when part of a mountain in the Pacific island's remote northern Enga province broke off on Friday, creating an «exploding bomb» made of rocks, debris and mud.

Survivors said the landslide struck homes «like a wave of the sea,» destroying everything in its path for half a mile.

Aid organizations and the military rushed to the aid of local residents, who used shovels and bare tools. hands to try to rescue survivors hampered by debris up to 30 feet deep in some places.

Authorities now fear a second landslide could occur as the debris is destabilized by rain.

The hopes of survivors of Friday's disaster are fading. Photo: UNDP/AFP Village residents are looking for their missing relatives after a landslide. Photo: IOM/Shutterstock

“The landslide area is very unstable. When we are there, we regularly hear strong explosions where the mountain is, and rocks and debris are still falling there,” Sandis Tsaka, chairman of the Enga provincial disaster committee, told Reuters.

“We We are hearing speculation that there could be another landslide and perhaps 8,000 people will have to be evacuated,” said Serhan Aktoprak, head of mission for the International Organization for Migration in Papua New Guinea.

Hopes for the survivors and the dead are fading. The death toll is still difficult to confirm due to the scale of the destruction.

“18 members of my family are buried under the rubble and ground I stand on, and there are many more family members in the village that I cannot count. «, a woman named Evit Kambu told Reuters.

There are also growing fears of catastrophic disease outbreaks due to the number of undetected bodies and the risk of contaminated drinking water.

Aid agencies say access to the area is extremely difficult — especially for heavy equipment — due to dangerous terrain and damaged roads.

On Tuesday, UNICEF said it was strengthening its emergency response along with the Papua New Guinea Defense Force.

“It is now clear that more than 40 percent of the victims are children under the age of 16 who have been deeply traumatized by the loss of their families, homes and livelihoods,” she said Angela Kearney, UNICEF Representative. 

António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, sent “sincere condolences” to the families of the victims and Papua New Guinea, saying that “the UN stands ready to offer further assistance at this difficult time,” after the government formally requested assistance.

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