Catastrophes [text] - Race against the clock following a landslide in Papua New Guinea.
Emergency workers are making a heroic effort in the secluded highlands of Papua New Guinea to save people affected by the catastrophic landslide. Quoting AAP Serhan Aktoprak, Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the island nation, "We can only pray that we can play a role in saving more lives before time runs out." The struggle is intense as there are ongoing rockslides and water is flowing beneath the rubble. In videos from the disaster site, individuals could be seen without shoes and sifting through massive piles of debris in search of their loved ones with shovels.
"This is an unmitigated tragedy," said Aktoprak as he informed on Sunday that at least 670 deaths were expected. Houses in the area were reportedly buried six to eight meters deep under the debris, with the village of Yambali in the solitary province of Enga completely submerged. When the cataclysm struck early Friday morning (local time), half of a mountain suddenly collapsed and slid into the valley, catching the inhabitants unawares while they were sleeping.
Australia has reached out to help their neighboring country. Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles informed ABC that officials from Australia had been in continuous contact with their counterparts in Papua New Guinea since the incident, discussing ways to provide support. With the region's remote location, it is believed that humanitarian workers might only be able to be flown in from the air.
"This is an unmitigated tragedy," insisted Marles. "Our nations are incredibly close, and during natural disasters, they immediately lend us a helping hand - and we are returning the favor now."
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- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is actively involved in the disaster relief efforts in Port Moresby, following the landslide and resulting disasters in the Papua New Guinea highlands.
- Due to the remote location of the affected area, rescue workers are relying on helicopters to access the site and conduct searches for survivors among the debris caused by the weather-induced storm and resulting landslide.
- In the aftermath of the disaster, Latif Biabui, the governor of the Enga province, pleaded for further international assistance to address the large-scale humanitarian crisis, citing the need for food, water, and medical supplies.
- In a statement issued by the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, he acknowledged the critical situation and urged for increased cooperation among national and international organizations to provide urgent relief to the affected communities.
- As recovery efforts continue, the IOM is discouraging persons without professional disaster management experience from venturing into the disaster zone, citing the potential danger of further destabilizing the affected area and potentially endangering rescue workers and survivors.
Source: www.stern.de
