Displaying items by tag: thousands missing

Following the devastating landslides in Papua New Guinea on 24 May, rescuers have been reaching the hard-to-access northern Enga region, but the chances of finding survivors are now slim. Residents are using shovels and bare hands to search through the unstable landslide area, which continues to pose danger as more rocks and debris fall. A state of emergency has been declared for the affected area. Authorities fear a second landslide and potential disease outbreak due to trapped water and decomposing bodies. Continued debris movement could further devastate nearby communities. Military checkpoints and evacuation efforts are under way, but aid has been slow due to remote terrain and tribal unrest. Over two thousand people are said to have been buried in the landslide, though estimates vary; accurate death tolls are difficult due to outdated census data and incomplete records. Thousands of local people have been ordered to evacuate.