The devastating landslide that struck Yambali village in Enga province of Papua New Guinea on Friday has claimed the lives of more than 670 people, according to a report by the news agency AFP, citing a UN official.
UN migration agency official Serhan Aktoprak disclosed the grim reality, stating, “There are an estimated 150-plus houses now buried,” and confirming that “670-plus people are assumed dead.” Aktoprak, based in Port Moresby, emphasized the ongoing risks posed by the unstable land and flowing water in the affected area.
“The situation is terrible with the land still sliding. The water is running, and this is creating a massive risk for everyone involved,” Aktoprak told AFP.
Initially, local officials had reported a death toll of 100 or more on Friday. However, by Sunday, only five bodies and a leg of a sixth victim had been recovered from the site of the disaster.
Aktoprak further revealed that more than 1,000 people had been displaced from the once-thriving village. The landslide has devastated food gardens and water supplies, leaving the survivors facing significant challenges in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The landslide in Yambali village represents a profound loss for the community, with the full extent of the devastation continuing to unfold as recovery efforts persist. The Papua New Guinea authorities, along with international agencies, are working tirelessly to provide support to the affected individuals and communities during this difficult time.
