According to the Papua New Guinea government, over 2,000 individuals are suspected to have been engulfed by a landslide in the South Pacific island nation. This occurred when a mountain slope collapsed during the early hours of last Friday morning, catching the village of Yambali unaware as its residents slept.
Gathered imagery has also unveiled the magnitude of Friday’s catastrophic landslide in Papua New Guinea, prompting authorities to instruct thousands more residents to evacuate amid mounting concerns of an impending second landslide.
The PNG government’s reported death toll is approximately three times higher than the United Nations’ estimate of 670 fatalities. And rescue efforts have been given prominence amongst all.
Efforts by Papua New Guinea and international relief workers to save victims of the landslide in the remote interior of the South Pacific nation are encountering challenges. According to the UN’s migration agency, operating in the region, 1,575 individuals from 315 households have been displaced by the landslide near Mulitaka in the mountainous Enga province. Rescue operations are further complicated by the region’s reputation for inter-tribal conflict, which has impeded efforts to assist those affected.
Official Responses
Following the tragic unfolding, King Charles III of Britain, who also serves as the head of state of Papua New Guinea, conveyed his and the Queen’s condolences. He expressed deep admiration for the remarkable resilience of the country’s people, which he had personally witnessed. His statement on X conveyed his confidence in the communities’ ability to rally together to aid the survivors and facilitate recovery in these distressing circumstances.
PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape also extended his condolences and directed the country’s defense force and emergency agencies to the area, situated approximately 600 kilometers northwest of the capital, Port Moresby. However, residents in the affected Kaokalam village assert that they are still awaiting significant intervention from officials to launch larger-scale rescue operations.
His remarks come at a time when his leadership is severely threatened. Marape became the subject of scrutiny as he failed to visit and assist the victims of the catastrophic landslide. His concerns for the well-being of his people seemingly failed to extend beyond a public statement.
The coming week is bound to caste a strain on Marape’s political career. A motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister was anticipated to be presented in parliament this afternoon, but the session was adjourned. It remains uncertain whether the motion will be introduced tomorrow or later in the week.
On Saturday, 18 members of Marape’s coalition defected to the opposition, including one of his closest allies, former finance minister Rainbo Paita — who is now a potential candidate for Prime Minister should Marape be ousted.
While aid workers in Enga endeavor to ascertain the death toll from last week’s landslide, the Prime Minister has been engaged in his own political calculations, assessing whether he commands adequate parliamentary support to retain his position through the week.
The government of Papua New Guinea has formally requested additional international aid. Countries like the United States and Australia, the latter being a close neighbor and the most significant contributor of foreign aid to Papua New Guinea, have publicly expressed their willingness to offer further assistance.
Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern portion of the island of New Guinea, with the western part belonging to Indonesia. Situated within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” a zone characterized by active volcanoes and frequent seismic activity, Papua New Guinea faces significant geological risks.
While its population is officially estimated at around 10 million, the lack of a comprehensive census in years has led the UN to suggest that the actual figure could be closer to 17 million.
