300 People Buried Landslides In Papua New Guinea

UNSPLASH/Timo Volz ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - It is estimated that out of 300 people were buried by landslides that destroyed remote villages in northern Papua New Guinea.

Hundreds of people are feared to have died as a result of a landslide that hit Kaokalam village in Enga Province, about 600 km (370 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby.

The landslides piled up more than 300 people and 1,182 houses, the Papua New Guinea Post Courier said, citing comments from the country's lawmaker, Aimos Akem, reported by Reuters, Saturday, May 25.

More than six villages were affected by landslides in the Mulitaka region, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said.

Australia's High Commission at Port Moresby coordinated with PNG authorities to further monitor the extent of damage and casualties, a DFAT spokesman said in a statement.