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More than 2,000 people were buried in a huge landslide that devastated a city in Papua New Guineasaid the government this Monday, which requested international help for rescue efforts.
“The landslide buried more than 2,000 living people and caused significant damage to buildings and orchards, as well as seriously affecting the country’s economic base.”indicated Papua’s national disaster center in a letter to the UN to which AFP had access.
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A village located on a hillside in the province of Engain the center of the archipelago, it was almost completely destroyed when part of the mountain collapsed Mongolian on Friday morning, burying countless homes and the people sleeping inside them.
The main road leading to the large gold mine in porgera it was “completely blocked“, the disaster center said in its letter to the office of the disaster resident coordinator. United Nations in capital, Port Moresby.
“The situation remains unstable because the slip of Earth “It continues to advance slowly, putting both rescuers and potential survivors at risk.”he added.
The center asked Nations United inform development partners about the crisis Papua New Guinea “and other international friends.”
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International aid
O UN will hold a meeting on Tuesday with foreign governments to try to coordinate rescue efforts, which have been complicated by the remoteness of the location – in the country’s rugged highlands – as well as the road cuts and ongoing tribal clashes nearby.
Residents and rescue teams use shovels and pieces of wood to find bodies beneath the avalanche, which could be up to eight meters deep and whose length would be equivalent to almost four football fields.
“Nobody escaped. We don’t know who died because the records are buried“, he told AFP Jacob Sowaia teacher from a neighboring town.
Serhan Aktoprakimmigration agency official UNindicated that cracks were appearing in land adjacent to the landslide, which ““That could trigger a new slide.”
O World Health Organization offered its assistance to “meet urgent health needs”, indicated its general director on the social network Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
SouthernHeya close ally, announced that he would provide emergency suppliessuch as shelters, hygiene kits and specific support for women and children.
The Chinese president, Xi JinpingHe said he was “deeply saddened” by the catastrophe and provided assistance to his country.
United States, France, Japan and World Health Organization They also offered their support.
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Access blocked
Neighbors indicated that the landslide could have been caused by recent, very intense rains.
Papua New Guinea It has one of the wettest climates in the world and research has revealed that changes in precipitation patterns related to climate change could exacerbate the risk of landslides.
Estimating the number of victims is difficult because many people fleeing tribal violence have moved to the area in recent years, he said. Nicholas Boothprogram officer United Nations for the development.
Estimate from aid agencies more than 1,000 people They had to leave their homes because of this catastrophe.
On the other hand, the provision of humanitarian aid from the provincial capital, wabagwas marred by an outbreak of tribal clashes unrelated to the disaster, according to the UN Aktoprak.
The arrival of heavy machinery and excavators was expected on Sunday night, but their arrival was delayed due to this lockdown.
Papua New Guinea This year it has suffered numerous earthquakes, floods and landslides that have complicated the work of emergency services.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
