Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 29, 2024

Storyline:
Rescuers in Papua New Guinea are battling treacherous terrain, unstable ground, and a lack of heavy machinery to reach survivors buried beneath rubble, after a deadly landslide swallowed communities in the country's northern remote highlands on May 24.

According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration, the landslide, which hit the Enga Province's highlands at around 03:00 local time, has killed at least 670 people. The Papua New Guinea National Disaster Center said that over 2,000 people are believed to have been buried alive by mud and rubble.

At the disaster scene on Wednesday, locals continued to dig through the rubble using just spades and sticks to locate the missing people, as heavy machinery is yet to arrive. Their efforts were further complicated by fears that the waterlogged ground could shift again.

As the digging went on, a crowd of women, children and the elderly wailed nearby in despair.

A bridge on one of the main thoroughfares in the mountainous area reportedly collapsed on Tuesday morning, complicating access and disrupting communication between Enga and the rest of the region.

The disaster also caused major destruction to buildings and food gardens, affecting the economic lifeline of the country, according to the Papua New Guinea National Disaster Center.

Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea authorities and UN aid agencies are expediting efforts to send in urgently needed relief supplies to the disaster areas.

The total affected population, including those in need of possible evacuation and relocation, has been estimated at 7,849 people, or 1,427 households, according to data released by UN authorities, who have also warned of further landslides and disease outbreaks.

Shotlist:
Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 29, 2024:
1. Various of people digging through rubble with spades, sticks in wake of landslide;
2. Various of affected people.

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