The International Organization for Migration has increased its estimate of the death toll from a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea to over 670 people. The landslide buried more than 150 homes in Yambali village, leading to this tragic loss of life. Rescue efforts have been hindered by tons of unstable earth and ongoing tribal warfare in the region. Only five bodies and the leg of a sixth victim have been recovered so far, and crews have now given up hope of finding any survivors under the deep layers of earth and rubble.
Approximately 1,250 people have been left homeless as a result of the landslide, with around 250 additional houses condemned due to unstable ground. The national government is considering whether to request more international support to aid in the recovery efforts. Relief crews are working to move survivors to safer ground and establish evacuation centers outside the affected area. The devastation caused by the landslide has cut off the main highway through the province, and convoys transporting essential supplies have faced risks related to tribal fighting along the route.
The ongoing tribal warfare in the region has added another layer of complexity to the recovery efforts, with clashes between rival clans leaving eight locals dead and dozens of homes and businesses destroyed. While tribal combatants are not expected to target relief convoys, authorities are concerned about opportunistic criminals taking advantage of the chaos to commit crimes such as robbery or carjacking. The official estimate of nearly 4,000 people living in the village at the time of the landslide is now being questioned, as the count did not account for recent migrants fleeing clan violence.
Emergency responders are working to provide survivors with food, water, and shelter while assessing the numbers of injured and missing individuals. The military is leading these efforts, with additional support expected from the government and international partners. Defense Minister Billy Joseph and National Disaster Center director Laso Mana are assessing the situation on the ground to determine the need for further assistance. The United States and Australia have expressed readiness to provide additional support to aid in the recovery efforts in Papua New Guinea, a diverse, developing nation with a significant population of subsistence farmers.
