More than 670 people estimated to be buried and feared dead after massive landslide in Papua New Guinea

26 May 2024, 09:50 | Updated: 26 May 2024, 10:22

People cross over the landslide area to get to the other side in Yambali village, Papua New Guinea, Friday, May 24, 2024
People cross over the landslide area to get to the other side in Yambali village, Papua New Guinea, Friday, May 24, 2024. Picture: Alamy

By Charlie Duffield

The estimated death toll from a landslide in northern Papua New Guinea has soared to more than 670.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Officials in the Enga province say only six bodies have been recovered so far.

Serhan Aktoprak, chief of the UN migration agency's mission in the South Pacific island nation, said the revised death toll is based on calculations by Yambali village and Enga provincial officials that more than 150 homes had been buried by Friday's landslide.

The previous estimate had been 60 homes.

Local officials had initially put the death toll on Friday at 100 or more.

Only six bodies had been recovered by Sunday.

Rescuers had earlier said they had given up hope of finding more survivors under earth and rubble up to 26ft deep after the landslide hit Yambali a few hours before dawn on Friday.

Survivors are being moved to safer ground as unstable earth and tribal warfare, which is rife in the area, threatens the rescue effort.

Read More: Four children among at least 27 dead in fire at amusement park in western India

Read More: RAF pilot dead in Spitfire airshow crash as politicians and royals pay tribute to unnamed airman

An injured person is carried on a stretcher to seek medical assistance after a landslide in Yambali village, Papua New Guinea
An injured person is carried on a stretcher to seek medical assistance after a landslide in Yambali village, Papua New Guinea. Picture: Alamy

Mr Aktoprak said: "Hopes to take the people out alive from the rubble have diminished now.

"People are coming to terms with this so there is a serious level of grieving and mourning."

Heavy earth-moving equipment is yet to arrive at the mountainous location 370 miles north-west of the capital Port Moresby.

Government authorities are establishing evacuation centres on safer ground on either side of the massive swathe of debris that covers an area the size of three to four football fields and has cut the main road through the province.

Mr Aktoprak said working in the debris is very dangerous and the land is still sliding.

As well as the blocked road, convoys that have transported food, water and other essential supplies since Saturday to the devastated village have faced risks related to tribal fighting in Tambitanis, which is about halfway along the route from the nearest large town.

Papua New Guinea soldiers are providing security for the convoys.

Eight locals were killed in a clash between two rival clans on Saturday in a longstanding dispute unrelated to the landslide.

Around 30 homes and five retail businesses were burned down in the fighting, local officials said.

Justine McMahon, country director of the humanitarian agency Care International, said moving survivors to "more stable ground" is an immediate priority, along with providing them with food, water and shelter.

Medical facilities were buried along with houses, several small businesses, a guest house, a school and a petrol station, officials said.

Ms McMahon said there are other health facilities in the region, the provincial government is sending health workers and the World Health Organisation is mobilising staff.

"There will be some support, but it's such a spread out area that I think it will be quite a challenging situation," she said.

"The scale of this disaster is quite immense."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Sara Burack, reality star and luxury real estate agent, was known for her appearance on Netflix's Million Dollar House

Netflix star Sara Burack killed in Hamptons hit-and-run as police launch manhunt for driver

.

Palestine Action 'to be banned' after breaking into RAF Brize Norton and damaging military aircraft

Chris Wreh of Tamworth battles with Radu Dragusin of Tottenham Hotspur during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match

Man given three-year banning order for racist abuse of Tamworth’s Chris Wreh

Fergus Ewing has quit the SNP after more than half a century of involvement.

SNP urged to put independence on backburner for 10 years

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement during a visit to the site of the Weizmann Institute of Science, which was hit by missiles fired from Iran, in the central city of Rehovot on Friday, June 20, 2025. (Jack Guez/Pool Photo via AP)

Iran launches fresh wave of missile strikes on Israel - as UK withdraws embassy staff from Tehran

.

Counter terror police investigating after pro-Palestinian protesters damage aircraft in break-in at RAF Brize Norton

Jack Draper celebrates victory against Brandon Nakashima on day twelve of the HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club

Jack Draper clinches important Wimbledon seeding by reaching Queen’s semi-finals

Muhammad Qasim's BMW was being followed by a marked police car on Island Road in Handsworth, West Midlands, when he failed to negotiate a left-hand bend and crashed into a tree.

Police driving expert has ‘no criticism’ of officer’s driving skills after car he was following crashed into tree, killing driver

Pharrell Garcia, 15, suffered a single stab wound to the heart.

Teenager locked up for stabbing school friend to death 'by accident' in east London park

Wasif Hussain (left), 21, and his wife Nabela Tabassum, 19, who were jailed for 15 years and nine years, respectively,

Couple who wore Poundland animal masks during attempted murder jailed

Police launch murder probe after man in his 40s shot dead outside Costco superstore

Police launch murder probe after man in his 40s shot dead near Costco superstore

Sinner said: “I am very happy and honoured to be part of this project with Andrea"

World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner to release duet with Andrea Bocelli

'Ready to serve': Meet one of the UK's youngest mayors driving change in her community

Young people just aren’t seeing the right leaders, says one of the UK’s youngest mayors aged just 29

The 'Swan Whisperer' was handed a two-year ban from Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

Fowl Play: ‘Swan whisperer’ banned from Hyde Park after hugging and kissing protected birds

The "Bayesian" yacht that was struck by a pre-dawn storm in August last year while anchored off Porticello sunk within minutes killing British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, and six others.

First glimpse of tech tycoon Mike Lynch's Bayesian superyacht as its raised from seabed

Jennifer Abbot, 69, was discovered stabbed to death in her Camden home

Woman, 69, charged with murder of film director 'over diamond-encrusted Rolex' revealed as victim's sister