A massive landslide, also known as a mountain collapse, occurred in a remote area in the northern region of the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea (PNG) two weeks ago. Authorities estimate that over 2,000 people have been buried in the disaster. Following warnings from geological experts in New Zealand about the possibility of another landslide in the area, authorities immediately ordered a large-scale evacuation and halted rescue efforts.
According to media reports, the destructive landslide disaster took place in the Maip Mulitaka area of Enga Province in central PNG around 3 a.m. on May 24th. The exact number of casualties is still unknown, with the United Nations estimating around 670 deaths, while the PNG government’s own assessment indicates that more than 2,000 people were buried alive.
Due to the remote location of the disaster area and the unstable condition of the mountains, rescue efforts in the area have been extremely difficult. As of now, only 11 bodies have been recovered.
A team of geotechnical engineers from New Zealand dispatched to PNG released a geological report on Thursday, June 6th, stating that the scale of the landslide two weeks ago was so significant that the mountain might continue to slide. The stability of the ground on both sides of the original collapse area is also a concern. Moreover, with the rainy season approaching, there is a risk of soil liquefaction, potentially triggering another landslide or mudflow.
Aaron Waterreus, the team leader of the New Zealand Fire and Emergency Rescue Squad (FENZ) and a geotechnical engineer, stated during a press conference on Friday, June 7th, “We believe there is a real possibility of another landslide occurring in the near or mid-term.”
Upon receiving this information, the government of Enga Province has ordered a large-scale evacuation of more surrounding areas near the landslide and ceased the search for the bodies of the victims.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations stated that the area affected by the disaster will be cordoned off, with restricted access to prevent the spread of infectious diseases from the decomposing bodies.