In the early hours of May 24, 2024, a devastating landslide struck six remote villages in Papua New Guinea's Enga province. The disaster buried over 100 homes and left many people missing or dead. According to various sources, including local residents and officials, estimates suggest that more than 100 individuals may have perished in the tragedy.
The landslide occurred at approximately 3 a.m., leaving villagers in shock as they were caught off guard while asleep. The affected area covers a significant expanse, roughly equivalent to three to four football fields. Enga governor Peter Ipatas described the event as an 'unprecedented natural disaster.'
Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea has dispatched disaster officials, PNG Defense Force personnel, and other resources to the site for relief work, recovery efforts, and infrastructure reconstruction. The international community has also responded with support from organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations.
The exact number of casualties remains uncertain at this time. Rescue teams are working diligently to sift through the debris, but their progress is hampered by fallen boulders and other obstacles. The isolated location of the affected villages, combined with poor telecommunications infrastructure, has further complicated relief efforts.
The landslide struck Kaokalam village in Enga province, about 370 miles northwest of the capital city, Port Moresby. Residents from neighboring areas reported that boulders and trees from a collapsed mountainside buried parts of the community and left it isolated. The disaster has also disrupted essential services such as water, power, and transportation.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that residents were pulling out bodies buried under rocks and trees. Elizabeth Laruma, who runs a women's business association in Porgera town near the Porgera Gold Mine in the same province, said houses were flattened when the side of a mountain gave way. Ninga Role, a village resident who was away at the time of the landslide, expects that at least four of his relatives died.
The incident has raised concerns about access to fuel and goods for Port Moresby due to the blocked road between Porgera and Kaokalam village. Papua New Guinea is a diverse developing nation with mostly subsistence farmers, 800 languages, and few roads outside the larger cities. With a population of over 10 million people, it is also the most populous South Pacific nation after Australia.
The disaster response teams are working tirelessly to assess the damage and provide aid to those affected by this tragic event. The international community has pledged its support in relief efforts, and Prime Minister Marape has promised further information as soon as it becomes available.
