Residents in Yambali, Papua New Guinea, search for survivors buried in a landslide on the 26th local time. AP News,
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, Heavy rain has fallen for several weeks due to climate change.
Difficult to access the disaster area… “Only possible by helicopter”,
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, ‘The death toll from a massive landslide in the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea is estimated to have exceeded 600, according to the United Nations.’,
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, ‘According to AP and AFP on the 26th local time, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that more than 670 people are estimated to have died from the landslide that occurred in the mountainous region of Enga Province on the morning of the 24th, with more than 150 houses from at least 6 villages buried.’,
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, ‘This figure far exceeds the earlier estimates in the 300s by IOM.’,
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, ‘IOM also stated that more than 1,000 refugees have been generated since household gardens, orchards, and buildings such as elementary schools and shops, gas stations, have been completely buried.’,
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, ‘IOM explained that the likelihood of the buried people surviving is slim and estimated the number of deaths by calculating the average household members in the houses.’,
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, ‘The landslide has blocked roads and ongoing disputes in neighboring areas have made it difficult for rescue teams and heavy equipment to enter, slowing down the rescue operations. This is causing the accurate count of casualties to not be properly conducted.’,
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, ‘Australia’s ABC reported that helicopters are the only way to access the area.’,
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, ‘Serm Hans Akopo-Rock, IOM representative in Papua New Guinea, stated, “Rocks and mud continue to fall from the mountains, hindering the rescue operations” and explained that local residents are experiencing great shock and fear.’,
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, ‘This recent landslide, which occurred on the morning of the 24th, was intensified by heavy rain that had been falling for weeks.’,
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, ‘According to the World Bank, Papua New Guinea is one of the countries where it rains the most in the world, but experts diagnose that the risk of landslides is increasing in this region as more rain falls due to climate change.’,
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