Papua New Guinea Leader Tours Landslide-Hit Community

Photo : Reuters

SYDNEY - Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape, embarked on his inaugural visit to a remote village devastated by a fatal landslide last week, expressing gratitude to international aid contributors for their assistance.

In the wake of the calamity that befell Yambali village in the Enga region, authorities are still grappling to ascertain the precise number of individuals buried beneath the debris of the collapsed mountain. While the PNG government speculates that over 2,000 people might have been entombed, the United Nations suggests a death toll of approximately 670.

During his visit, Marape tendered his apologies to the residents for the delayed response, as reported by The Papua New Guinea Post Courier. "I'm sorry," Marape conveyed, expressing solidarity with the community in their time of anguish.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel  

In a bid to address the immediate needs of the affected populace, Marape pledged 20 million Kina towards emergency relief efforts and initial recovery endeavors. Additionally, he conducted an aerial survey of the disaster site via helicopter, as confirmed by the United Nations migration agency.

However, the delivery of heavy machinery and aid has been impeded by challenging topography and tribal tensions in the region. As of Thursday, PNG authorities had conceded the unlikelihood of discovering survivors amidst the wreckage and transitioned their focus towards retrieving the deceased.

To mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks stemming from the presence of decaying bodies, the United Nations migration agency disclosed plans for PNG authorities to quarantine the disaster site after 14 days, restricting access to prevent further contamination of water sources in the village.

Furthermore, the agency emphasized that individuals yet to be accounted for would be officially declared missing. The United Nations underscored the urgency of the situation, citing concerns about the contamination of water sources by underground streams flowing beneath the debris.