Rescue teams have arrived at the site of a devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea. They are helping villagers search for hundreds of people feared dead under enormous mounds of rubble and mud. The disaster hit Kaokalam village in Enga province early on Friday morning. Most villagers were asleep when the landslide struck, according to government officials.

“At this time, we are still searching for bodies who are buried by the massive landslide,” community leader Mark Ipuia told Reuters on Saturday. He added that “more than 300” villagers might be entombed. So far, only four bodies have been pulled from the debris, a United Nations official based in the capital, Port Moresby, said.

The landslide also buried at least 1,182 houses in the area, which is located about 600 kilometers (370 miles) northwest of Port Moresby. “There are a lot of houses under the debris that cannot be reached,” said UN official Serhan Aktoprak. He estimated that as many as 3,000 people lived in the hillside settlement. “The land continues to slide and move, and that makes it dangerous for people to operate,” he told AFP.

While the area is not densely populated, humanitarian agency CARE expressed concerns that the death toll could be disproportionately high. The landslide has blocked highway access, making helicopters the only way to reach the area. The emergency team of medics, including military and police, also faced difficulty in reaching the area due to rugged terrain and damage to major roads.

In total, more than six villages in Enga province’s Mulitaka region have been affected by the landslide, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) reported on Saturday. The disaster has caused extensive damage and disrupted the lives of many residents. The ongoing movement of the land poses a significant risk to both survivors and rescuers.

Despite the challenges, rescue teams are determined to continue their efforts. The community and international agencies are working together to provide aid and support to those affected by this tragedy of the landslide in Papua New Guinea. The situation remains dire, and the full extent of the damage and loss of life is still being assessed.

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