Hundreds feared dead after huge landslide in Papua New Guinea

Scores of people have died in a huge landslide which has struck a remote village in Papua New Guinea.

The landslide reportedly hit Yambali village in Enga Province, about 600 kilometres north-west of Port Moresby.

The landslip has buried homes and food gardens, leaving an unknown number of people trapped under the debris.

Residents on the ground say they have lost family members and are retrieving bodies.

Community leader Jethro Tulin told RNZ Pacific the catastrophe wiped out the village, which has a population of around three-thousand.

“It was a massive landslide…occured around 3am last night (Thursday). People were sleeping…the whole village is covered from the massive landslide.”

Tulin said it is estimated hundreds of lives could be lost, but no bodies can be retrieved until special equipment arrives.

He said a team from Wabag, the provincial capital, has been sent to investigate the scene.

The ABC first reported that residents said they estimate “100-plus” deaths but authorities are yet to confirm this figure.

Porgera Women in Business Association president Elizabeth Laruma told ABC that houses were flattened when the side of a nearby mountain gave way.

“It has occurred when people were still asleep in the early hours and the entire village has gone down,” Laruma said.

“From what I can presume, it’s about 100-plus people who are buried beneath the ground.”

Yambali village is a two hour drive from the Porgera Gold mine.

The catastrophic destruction is blocking access to the mine, forcing a usually bustling operation to come to a stand still.

The main highway to Porgera has also been closed off.

RNZ Pacific Correspondent Scott Waide confirmed reports of multiple deaths and many houses destroyed.

Images on social media platform Facebook show the enormity of the landslide, with debris across houses and vehicles left in the wake of falling boulders and trees.

Authorities are yet to confirm the number of deaths.