2024 Enga landslide
This article needs to be updated. (June 2024) |
On 24 May 2024, a landslide occurred in Maip Muritaka Rural LLG, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea. Six people are confirmed dead.[3] Most reports indicate at least 100 deaths. Many people are missing. In the villlages of Kaokalam and Yambali, 3,000 people are missing.[4][5] The United Nations estimates 670 people are buried under the landslide.[7]
  | |
| Date | 24 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Time | c. 03:00 PGT (UTC+10:00) |
| Location | Maip Muritaka Rural LLG, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea |
| Coordinates | 5°22′26″S 143°23′19″E / 5.37389°S 143.38861°E |
| Cause | Gold mining and/or heavy rains (suspected)[1][2] |
| Deaths | 11 (confirmed)[3] 160–2,000 (estimated)[4][5] |
| Non-fatal injuries | 17 |
| Missing | 2,500+[6] |
Background
changePapua New Guinea is on the island of New Guinea. This island is mountaneous. Because of the weather, and climate in general, landslides are common. Many people are poor, and government mismanagement is common. In 2024, there was heavy rainfall and flooding due to climate change.[2] One landslide in April killed 14 people, while another a month before killed at least 21.[8]
Cause
changeOn 18 May, a Mw 4.5 earthquake occurred 105 km (65 mi) west of where the landslide happened. It struck 126.2 km (78.4 mi) below the surface.[9] A local said this may have caused the landslide.[1] The Red Cross said that there was no indication that the earthquake caused it, instead attributing it to either gold mining or heavy rain.[2]
Impact
change
The landslide occurred at approximately 03:00 PGT on 24 May (17:00 UTC on 23 May),[10] after a large amount of debris was dislodged from Mount Mungalo.[2] It affected six villages in Maip Muritaka Rural LLG.[11] In Kaokalam village alone, dozens of houses were destroyed and an estimated 300 people died. It blocked a highway near the Porgera Gold Mine, and destroyed 150 metres (490 ft) of the main highway leading into Kaokalam, causing concerns over the supply of fuel and goods.[12][1][13] Another 3,000 people were buried in Yambali village. The highway connecting to Port Moresby, the capital, was also blocked. Gardens which provided food for the village and its three water streams were buried and destroyed.[14] An official of the International Organization for Migration estimated that the area covered by the landslide was the equivalent of between "three and four football fields".[15] The debris is around 6 metres (20 ft) to 8 metres (26 ft) deep.[16]
Unofficial estimations of the death toll vary greatly. ABC News and other sources say at least 100 people were killed.[4] The Papua New Guinea Post-Courier put the death toll at over 1,000.[5] These numbers were not confirmed by government officials.[15] Over 4,000 people were directly affected.[3] Six bodies were recovered.[3] Seven people were injured[17] and four others were rescued, while 1,182 homes were reported to have been destroyed or buried.[6][18] More than 5,000 pigs, 100 stores and five vehicles were also believed to have been buried.[19]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Papua New Guinea landslide: More than 100 people feared dead in remote region". CNN. 2024-05-24. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Papua New Guinea: Large landslide causes 'loss of life and property'". Le Monde. 2024-05-24. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-24. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name ":1" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Situation in Papua New Guinea 'catastrophic' following landslide, with 4,000 in need of aid". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Huge landslide strikes remote village in Papua New Guinea, with 100 people feared dead". ABC News. 24 May 2024. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "More than 1000 people perish in massive landslide in Enga Province". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 24 May 2024. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Hundreds feared dead after huge landslide in Papua New Guinea". Radio New Zealand. 24 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ↑ "Papua New Guinea landslide: UN fears 670 people are dead". www.bbc.com. 26 May 2024.
- ↑ "Why does Papua New Guinea experience so many fatal landslides — and what can be done?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ↑ National Earthquake Information Center (24 May 2024). "M 4.5 – 96 km WNW of Porgera, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ↑ "Papua New Guinea: Hundreds feared killed after landslide buries remote village". Sky News. 24 May 2024. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ↑ "Papua New Guinea landslide: fears up to 100 dead in remote northern region". The Guardian. 24 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ↑ "Hundreds Feared Dead After Landslide Hits Remote Papua New Guinea Village". Citizen TV. 24 May 2024. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ↑ "More than 100 feared dead in massive landslide in Papua New Guinea". CBS News. 2024-05-24. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ↑ "Papua New Guinea landslide: rescue convoy heads to remote village as scores feared buried". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 McGuirk, Rod (24 May 2024). "More than 100 people believed killed by a landslide in Papua New Guinea, Australian media report". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ↑ Stambaugh, Alex (2024-05-25). "Three bodies recovered after Papua New Guinea landslide, 'significant' death toll expected". CNN. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ↑ McGuirk, Rod (25 May 2024). "Emergency convoy takes provisions to survivors of devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ↑ "More than 300 buried in Papua New Guinea landslide, local media says". Reuters. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ↑ "Akem calls for help after landslide buried a whole village in Enga Province". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.