Rescue Team Arrives... Local Residents Join
Only Three Bodies Recovered So Far
Rescue teams have begun accelerating their efforts after arriving at the site of a massive landslide in the South Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea.
According to the Associated Press and other sources on the 25th (local time), the rescue teams arrived at the accident site in the highlands of Enga Province, about 600 km northwest of the capital Port Moresby, one day after the incident occurred.
The landslide struck around 3 a.m. the previous day, burying nearby villages. After arriving, the rescue teams treated seven injured people, including one child, and distributed food and drinking water to survivors.
They also joined local residents who had begun rescue efforts immediately after the accident.
The rescue teams reportedly faced difficulties because the highway leading to the site was blocked by the landslide. The accident site has debris depths of 6 to 8 meters and is without electricity. Additionally, the soil around the site remains unstable and could slide at any time, making rescue operations challenging.
As of the morning of the 25th, only three bodies have been recovered. Due to the large scale of the landslide, the rescue work is expected to take considerable time. The exact casualty count is also expected to be delayed accordingly.
The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) assessment team reported to the AP that about 100 people are believed to have died and approximately 60 houses were buried.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that their governments are ready to assist at any time regarding this incident.
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