UN fears 670 people buried under Papua landslide

About 670 people are estimated to be buried under a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea, a UN official says.

The head of the International Organization for Migration in Papua New Guinea, Serhan Aktoprak, said the impact of Friday’s landslide in the country’s isolated Enga province was greater than initially thought.

“There are an estimated 150-plus houses now buried,” Mr Aktoprak said.

The affected areas are in the highlands of Enga, in the north of the island nation in the southwest Pacific.

Mr. Aktoprak said rescuers were at risk because “the land still sliding”.

“The water is running and this is creating a massive risk for everyone involved,” he said.