Emergency preparedness - Possible landslide in Papua New Guinea may have caused 2000 fatalities.
The Papua New Guinea disaster management is concerned that over 2000 deaths have resulted from the recent landslide that occurred on Friday. This was communicated in a message from the government's administrative body obtained by the German Press Agency.
The landslide happened in the early hours of Friday in a secluded highland part of the Pacific island nation. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Papua New Guinea had estimated the death toll on Sunday to be approximately 670.
The primary road to the area is completely obstructed, as stated in a note by the disaster management agency to the UN in the capital Port Moresby. "The situation remains unsteady, since the landslide is still gradually shifting, posing a constant hazard for both the rescue crews and the survivors."
Meanwhile, rescue teams were making desperate attempts to find more survivors beneath the earth and rock piles. "We really hope we can save more lives within the limited time we have," IOM mission leader Serhan Aktoprak said to the Australian broadcaster AAP on Monday. "But time is our enemy." Atópóškák added to the German Press Agency, "Three and a half days following the landslide, the odds are extremely low."
In videos of the disaster site, people could be seen searching for family members and friends amidst the massive piles of debris with bare feet and just shovels. According to Atopicrak, the majority of homes were buried six to eight meters deep under the debris. The United Nations is assisting in establishing evacuation centers for the displaced.
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- The United Nations and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are mobilizing resources for emergency response operations in Papua New Guinea, following the landslide disaster that has reportedly claimed over 2000 lives.
- The UN Civil Protection Team is working closely with the Papua New Guinea authorities to coordinate search and rescue efforts and provide assistance in setting up temporary shelters for the displaced.
- Concerns over potential additional fatalities due to the unstable landslide site are heightened as heavy weather conditions are forecast for the area, according to meteorological predictions reported by the German Press Agency.
- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a statement expressing its condolences and pledging support for the government and people of Papua New Guinea in dealing with this major crisis.
- In light of the devastating landslide event, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the global community to present swift, credible, and meaningful actions to help alleviate the suffering of the affected people in Papua New Guinea.
- The aftermath of the landslide disaster in Papua New Guinea underscores the need for strengthening disaster risk reduction and response mechanisms, emphasized René Dueñas Gómez, Regional Director of the IOM in Asia and the Pacific.
Source: www.stern.de
