Papua New Guinea Authorities Issue Evacuation Alert for Nearly 7,900 People at Risk After Deadly Landslide
In a race against time, Papua New Guinea authorities have identified nearly 7,900 individuals living near the site of a devastating landslide as “at risk” as rocks and debris continue to cascade down the hillside.
An urgent call for potential evacuation has been sounded, with a province official emphasizing that the mountain remains “very active”, heightening concerns for the safety of those in the vicinity.
Rescuers on the ground are facing grim odds as hopes of finding survivors buried in the rubble diminish with each passing day.
The country’s disaster agency estimates that approximately 2,000 people may have been engulfed by the mountainside collapse that occurred last Friday, a stark contrast to the UN’s initial projection of around 670 victims.
However, determining an exact death toll has proven to be a challenging task due to restricted access to the site and the obstacles involved in reaching those buried beneath the debris.
Complications surrounding the search and recovery mission have transformed the operation into primarily a retrieval mission for bodies, as relayed by various UN officials.
“It is not a rescue mission, it is a recovery mission,” stated Niels Kraaier from Unicef Papua New Guinea to news agency AFP. “It is very unlikely they will have survived.”
As of Tuesday, only six bodies have been recovered, underscoring the arduous nature of the operation hindered by delays in heavy machinery deployment and cultural sensitivities related to the use of such equipment near deceased individuals.
With villagers employing shovels, sticks, and sheer determination to clear the massive rocks and rubble, the community remains resolute in their efforts to unearth the victims.
Amidst the sorrow and devastation, local resident Jiman Yandam affirmed the collective commitment to persist in the manual excavation process, stating, “We don’t know where the bodies are buried, but we will not give up, we will keep going.”
As the terrain continues to pose threats with ongoing rock falls, the situation remains precarious with videos capturing the continuous movement of rocks down the mountain.
“It’s still very active. The mountain is breaking up,” disclosed Sandis Tsaka, Enga Provincial Administrator in an interview with the BBC. “There’s continuous movement of rock and debris which is making our search and rescue and recovery operations a challenge.”
With the rubble reaching depths of 10m in certain areas and the debris still in motion down the hillside, authorities have issued evacuation notices to nearby communities to mitigate the escalating risk.
“Because of the landslide, the impact area of the landslide is gradually increasing. So the homes and properties that were not affected by the original landslide area are growing every day,” explained Mr. Tsaka.
Concerns over infection and disease loom large as the bodies trapped under the rubble begin to decompose, prompting fears of contamination as currents flow down the hillside.
Amidst the challenging conditions, aid groups are focusing on providing essential supplies like food, water, and hygiene kits to residents while navigating obstacles such as blocked highways and damaged infrastructure caused by the landslide.
Australia has pledged an airlift of supplies scheduled to arrive on Wednesday to support the relief efforts in the region.
Prime Minister James Marape expressed condolences and mobilized national response teams to the affected area, even as political turmoil looms with a no-confidence motion against him pending in parliament. — BBC
