Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 29, 2024

Storyline:
Remote terrain is hampering critical relief efforts in Papua New Guinea (PNG) where the government and UN agencies are battling to reach survivors of a deadly landslide in Enga province.

The landslide struck Kaokalam village in Enga province, located over 600 km northwest of PNG's capital Port Moresby, burying a village whole as residents slept in their homes last Friday.

The death toll from the landslide is likely to surpass 2,000, according to preliminary estimates, said Prime Minister James Marape on Wednesday.

Rescue operations have been impeded by the unstable geological conditions and risks of secondary disasters.

Meanwhile, the UN is working closely with local authorities to help set up evacuation centers and provide assistance for stricken residents. At present, the PNG military is leading the search and rescue work, with survivors also joining the efforts in search of their loved ones.

Children were deeply traumatized by the massive landslide, said an official with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday, warning of an outbreak of diseases in the disaster area.

Shotlist:
Enga Province, Papua New Guinea - May 29, 2024:
1. Various of people digging through rubble in search of buried victims;
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Survivor (name not given/partially overlaid with shot 3):
"I'm one of the disaster survivors. I was inside of the house and the sand covered me. And it covered about hundreds of houses. People around this community, there [are] a lot and we usually sleep around this village. Total population for this [area] is 3,895. Half of the population [sunk] and [is] still there. We try to dig them out, but we can't dig them up. There are huge stones are over there."
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
3. People at landslide site;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
4. Various of landslide site, people digging through rubble in search of buried victims;
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Liaison officer, Enga province emergency committee, PNG National Disaster Center:
"We need more food, more water, [and resources] for digging up bodies. We need all of them."
6. Various of people digging through rubble in search of buried victims.

[Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]