People are still trying to dig out bodies from a massive landslide that hit a remote region in northern Papua New Guinea (PNG) early Friday, said a local resident, adding they are in urgent need of food, shelter and other necessities.

A massive landslide struck Kaokalam village in Enga province, located over 600 km northwest of PNG's capital Port Moresby early on Friday morning.

The disaster has claimed more than 100 lives and buried over 3,000 others under rubble, local media reported.

Karen Wai, a resident in Sirunki of Enga Province, about seven kilometers away from the disaster area, shared her experience with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Wai said many bodies remain in the mud and rubble even though the government has sent disaster relief forces to the site.

"Currently, the bodies are yet to be retrieved. The locals are still working and trying to dig out more of the bodies. Provincial government is sending natural disaster team with healthcare team and police and defense personnel to go there and check out and assist at the site," said Wai.

She said many of her families and friends were also affected by the disaster which wiped out everything, from gardens and houses to livestock.

"Their gardens were wiped out. Animals and livestock, yeah, everything was buried underneath there. They're appealing to our government, the NGOs for food and shelter temporarily. And they're also working [with] their locals, they're trying to retrieve the bodies and they're trying to dig out some of the bodies now. They started yesterday, so they need the government, the companies, NGOs to help them retrieve the bodies. Yeah, they are okay. But they are still shocked, very shocked. And they really need of food and shelter," said Wai.

A Chinese national who works in the Pacific island country said that the disaster caused significant damage to infrastructure, adding to the difficulty of the rescue.

"Currently, 100 persons' lives were lost. The number of the casualties is yet to be confirmed. The landslide broke the main highway, making the rescue more difficult. Currently, the Enga provincial government has sent the ambulance, police and defense forces to carry out the rescue and potentially worse at the scene," said Huang Rongsheng, deputy general manager of the PNG branch of China's Guangdong Foreign Construction Company.

SHOTLIST:

Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 24, 2024
1. Land sliding off mountain slope;

Sirunki, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 25, 2024
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Wai, local resident (ending with shot 3):
"Currently, the bodies are yet to be retrieved. The locals are still working and trying to dig out more of the bodies. Provincial government is sending natural disaster team with healthcare team and some police and defense personnel to go there and check out and assist at the site.";

Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 24, 2024
3. Various of buried home, overturned vehicle, rubble, debris in wake of landslide;
4. Various of villagers digging through rubble in search of buried victims;

Sirunki, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 25, 2024
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Wai, local resident (starting with shots 3-4):
"Their gardens were wiped out. Animals and livestock, yeah, everything was buried underneath there. They're appealing to our government, the NGOs for food and shelter temporarily. And they're also working with their locals, they're trying to retrieve the bodies and they're trying to dig out some of the bodies now. They started yesterday, so they need the government, the companies, NGOs to help them retrieve the bodies. Yeah, they are okay. But they are still shocked, very shocked. And they really need of food and shelter.";

Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 24, 2024
6. Villagers digging through rubble in search of buried victims;

Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 24, 2024
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Huang Rongsheng, deputy general manager, PNG branch, China's Guangdong Foreign Construction Company:
"Currently, 100 persons' lives were lost. The number of the casualties is yet to be confirmed. The landslide broke the main highway, making the rescue more difficult. Currently, the Enga provincial government has sent the ambulance, police and defense forces to carry out the rescue and potentially worse at the scene.";

Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 24, 2024
8. Crowd standing on rubble;
9. Villagers mourning lost lives.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]