Taking to X, PM Modi assured that India is ready to offer all possible support and assistance to Papua New Guinea after the landslide buried over 2,000 people alive and caused major damage.”Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and damage caused by the devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea. Our heartfelt condolences to the affected families and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. India is ready to offer all possible support and assistance,” PM Modi said.
As per the government of Papua New Guinea, it is estimated that over 2,000 individuals have been buried alive following a landslide in the South Pacific island nation. The calamity occurred in the early hours of Friday morning when the side of a mountain collapsed, burying the sleeping village of Yambali.
The affected settlement is situated in a restive and isolated region within the interior of the impoverished and rural nation, which lies off the northern coast of Australia. The remote location of the village has posed significant challenges and risks to the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Meanwhile, the government of Papua New Guinea has ordered an evacuation of thousands of residents from the path of a still-active landslide, according to a report by Reuters.
Rescue efforts in the northern Enga region of the Pacific nation have been ongoing since Friday, with teams gradually making their way into the hard-to-reach area. However, officials have expressed concerns about the chances of finding survivors.
According to local residents, they have been using basic tools like shovels and their bare hands to search for any survivors trapped under the debris. Enga province disaster committee chairperson Sandis Tsaka told Reuters, “The landslide area is very unstable. When we’re up there, we’re regularly hearing big explosions where the mountain is, there is still rocks and debris coming down.”
Tsaka further added, “The landslide is still active, as people are digging through the rocks, more is still coming down.” The authorities have declared a state of emergency in the disaster zone and a neighbouring area, which together have a population ranging from 4,500 to 8,000. However, not all residents have been instructed to evacuate yet.
The military has established checkpoints and is assisting in the relocation of residents to evacuation centres. The remote location, challenging terrain, and tribal unrest in the area have hindered the delivery of heavy equipment and aid, necessitating military escorts for the relief team convoys.