In the small village of Kaolokam in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea, a devastating landslide has left at least 500 people feared buried under massive debris.
Amidst the catastrophe, a glimmer of hope emerged as villagers miraculously rescued a couple, Johnson and Jaqueline Yandam, who were trapped under rubble.
Their home was hit by large rocks during the landslide, creating a protective barrier that shielded them from further debris. Despite the grim situation, where they had resigned themselves to dying, their calls for help were eventually heard by locals. The couple’s survival story stands out in a disaster where only a few remains have been recovered so far.
The response to the disaster has been a communal effort, with hundreds from nearby villages arriving to assist, reflecting the adhoc nature of disaster response in the region.
The Enga Provincial government and the National Disaster and Emergency Service have been mobilizing relief supplies and funds for recovery. However, getting a full grasp of the disaster’s scale was challenging, with initial reports and videos on social media providing fragmented insights into the magnitude of the tragedy. The disaster has not only caused immediate loss but also compounded the troubles in a region already strained by recent tribal violence and calls for tighter security and peacekeeping measures.
The devastating landslide occurred in the early hours of 24 May 2024. It struck the highlands region, with initial reports suggesting that it had caused widespread damage and loss of life. Many homes were buried, and significant disruptions followed, including blocked roads which hampered rescue efforts. The exact number of casualties remains unclear.
Update: The UN estimates that at least 670 people have died in Papua New Guinea’s massive landslide. Aid workers and villagers are searching for survivors amid dangerous conditions. pic.twitter.com/CemQZ5AnPk
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) May 26, 2024
