In this photo provided by the International Organization for Migration, an injured person was carried on a stretcher after a landslide in Yambali village, on Friday, May 24, 2024. (International Organization for Migration via AP)

Rescue teams reached the location of a significant landslide in Papua New Guinea's isolated highlands on Saturday, assisting local villagers in the search for potentially hundreds of individuals feared to be buried under large piles of debris and mud.

According to government officials, the disaster occurred in a remote area of Enga province around 3:00 am on Friday, engulfing large sections of the hillside settlement while villagers were asleep.

"At this time, we are still searching for bodies who are buried by the massive landslide," local leader Mark Ipuia said Saturday, stressing he feared "more than 300" people were buried under the rubble.

Both the United Nations and the Red Cross have suggested that the death toll may significantly exceed 100, although they emphasized that it might take several days before a reliable estimate becomes available.

"While verified casualty numbers are still pending, people living in the approximately 60 destroyed homes are unaccounted for," said a UN situation report as cited by AFP on Saturday.

Death toll could be disproportionately high

As of now, a UN official located in the capital city of Port Moresby said as quoted by AFP that at least four bodies have been retrieved.

"There are a lot of houses under the debris that cannot be reached," said UN official Serhan Aktoprak, who estimated that over 3,800 individuals resided in the village.

"The land continues to slide and move, and that makes it dangerous for people to operate," he warned.

Aktoprak mentioned that at certain locations, the landslide, comprising car-sized boulders, uprooted trees, and disturbed earth, reached a depth of eight meters (26 feet).

Aid agencies stated that the disaster has essentially eradicated the village's livestock, food gardens, and access to clean water.

A rapid response team, consisting of medical personnel, military, and police, commenced their arrival at the disaster area on Saturday morning. It is worth noting that their journey was hindered by the challenging terrain and the destruction of major roads.

"While the area is not densely populated, our concern is that the death toll could be disproportionately high," humanitarian agency CARE said as the first reinforcements arrived.

Challenges ahead for relief efforts

Residents believed that the landslide might have been induced by the heavy rainfall that had soaked the area over the past few weeks.

According to the World Bank, Papua New Guinea boasts one of the most humid climates globally, with the most intense rainfall occurring in the lush highland regions.

Studies indicate that altered rainfall patterns associated with climate change could heighten the vulnerability to landslides in the country.

Visuals depicted a landscape of destruction, showcasing a large section of earth ripped away from the densely forested Mount Mungalo.

Nickson Pakea, president of the neighboring Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry, indicated that significant advancement would be hindered until the road damages were repaired and heavy machinery transported to the area.

"The destruction is massive," he said as quoted by AFP.

"They need machinery and other equipment to uncover these bodies. We are facing a big problem," he further stressed.