Locals in remote Papua New Guinea used sticks and bare hands to dig through mud on Monday after a massive landslide in which as many as 2,000 people may have been buried alive. Mohammad Om, the Highlands Field Coordinator for the International Organization for Migration, confirmed that the footage was filmed on Monday at Yamb Ward in Enga Province.
The devastating landslide, which occurred three days ago, has left more than 2,000 people missing. Treacherous terrain and difficulties in transporting aid have lowered hopes of finding survivors. The landslide crashed through six villages in the Mip Mulaka District in the country’s north at around 3:00 a.m. on Friday while most of the community slept.
More than 150 houses were buried beneath debris almost two stories high. Rescuers told local media they heard screams from beneath the earth, adding urgency to their efforts despite the challenging conditions. The remote location of the disaster site and the sheer volume of debris are major obstacles in the rescue operations.
The affected communities are grappling with the aftermath, utilizing whatever tools they can find in the hope of locating survivors. International aid organizations are mobilizing support, but the logistics of delivering aid to such a remote and rugged area are proving to be extremely challenging.
As rescue efforts continue, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for miracles amid the tragedy.
