STORY: Villagers in Papua New Guinea appeal for aid following devastating landslide
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: May 31, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:07
LOCATION: YAMBALI, Papua New Guinea
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of landslide in Papua New Guinea
2. SOUNDBITE (local language): FRIDA YEAHKAL, Local resident
3. SOUNDBITE (local language): YURI YAPARA, Local resident
4. various of aids in Papua New Guinea

STORYLINE:

Residents of Yambali in Papua New Guinea are urgently appealing for aid after a catastrophic landslide left the village in ruins last Friday.

A massive landslide brought boulders, earth, and splintered trees down on Yambali, which is located in the remote highlands of the Pacific island country. The landslide occurred when part of the limestone mountainside collapsed and devastated everything in its path.

Thousands of villagers remain at risk from a potential landslide, and authorities in Papua New Guinea are actively searching for a safe evacuation area. Emergency responders have indicated that up to 8,000 people might need to be relocated.

SOUNDBITE 1 (local language): FRIDA YEAHKAL, Local resident
"There is little food and water. We are hungry and asking for your help. We are not even sleeping at night. We are afraid that more of the mountain will slide down and kill us all."

SOUNDBITE 2 (local language): YURI YAPARA, Local resident
"We need the basics in life to continue living. Gardens and houses have all been destroyed, so we need food to eat and houses to sleep in. Even our good places to build houses have been destroyed and we urgently need help. And if help does not come or is delayed, the lives of the ones living are in danger."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Yambali, Papua New Guinea.
(XHTV)