On Monday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed his grief over the loss of lives in Papua New Guinea due to a recent landslide, which has left around 2,000 people feared buried.

In a post on X, Jaishankar conveyed his deep sadness over the loss of lives in Papua New Guinea following the recent landslide. He extended India’s thoughts and solidarity to the government and people of Papua New Guinea during this difficult time.

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Rescue efforts underway

Following the tragic disaster, rescuers have been struggling to locate survivors in the remote region.

The mountainous Enga region in northern Papua New Guinea was struck by a landslide last Friday. The latest figures show a significant increase from earlier estimates.

Shortly after the disaster, the United Nations confirmed that up to 100 people may have lost their lives.

However, according to CNN, estimates from the Chief of Mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in the country later revised this number up to 670.

However, the latest projection from Papua New Guinea’s disaster agency suggests that this figure may now be a significant underestimate.

The landslide buried over 2,000 people alive, caused extensive destruction to buildings and food gardens, and significantly impacted the country’s economic lifeline, according to a letter addressed to the UN by Lusete Laso Mana, the Acting Director of the National Disaster Centre.

Ongoing risks

The situation remains precarious as the landslip continues to slowly shift, presenting ongoing risks to both rescue teams and survivors, he stated. Additionally, he mentioned that the main highway to the area had been entirely blocked by the landslide.

The landslide struck the remote village of Kaokalam, situated approximately 600 kilometers (372 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby, around 3 am local time on Friday. It left behind a swath of debris, described by humanitarian workers as being as large as four football pitches.

Officials reported that over 150 houses in Yambali village were buried in debris.

Officials further warned that the area remains under “extreme risk,” with ongoing rockfalls and constant pressure exerted on the exposed ground soil.