More than 670 people killed in mudslide in Papua New Guinea
Place in News
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According to the United Nations agency International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 670 people have died in a remote village in the Pacific country of Papua New Guinea due to a massive landslide that has buried the whole village. According to the IOM, the death toll is likely to rise as more than 2000 people are feared trapped under the soil, and the rescue effort is being hampered due to the region being inaccessible and remote.
India announces 1 million dollar aid to Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 28 May 2028, announced immediate humanitarian aid worth one million dollars to Papua New Guinea to aid in relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts. The prime minister also expressed condolence over the loss of life and property in the country.
Over 2000 people feared trapped in the mudslide
Disaster struck the Yambali village in Enga Province of Papua New Guinea at about 3 a.m. local time on 24 May 2024. The village, situated at the foothills of a mountain, was buried by tonnes of rock boulders and mud that rolled down from the adjoining hilly slopes. The mud flattened more than 150 houses in the village, where more than 4000 people were asleep.
The authorities have started the rescue effort, but due to the remoteness of the region and the continued falling rocks have hampered the rescue operations. The death toll is likely to rise due to the absence of modern machinery, people are using digging sticks, spades, and agricultural forks to dig the bodies buried under the soil.
Reason for Mudslide in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The Ring of Fire, also known as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is a path along the Pacific Ocean characterised by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. The majority of Earth’s volcanoes and earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire.
However, there has been no recent earthquake in the region, which can cause the recent mudslides in the region.
According to experts, due to frequent earthquakes, the steep slopes and high mountains in the region have become very unstable. Also, the continuing deforestation in the area has made the soil and rock loose on the slopes of the mountains. The continuous rainfall in the region has loosened the rocks and mud on the mountain slope, triggering the recent mudslide.
Papua New Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a population of around 1 crore. Though rich in mineral resources, the country lags behind its neighbouring countries in development and has one of the highest crime rates in the world.
Hundreds of tribes inhabit the country’s remote and often inaccessible terrain. The country’s economic development has been hampered by its vast and diverse mountainous landscape and a lack of roads, making it difficult and costly to upgrade basic services like water, electricity, and sanitation.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is an island country situated in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean.
It was administered by Australia and became independent in 1975.
However, the British Monarch is the head of Papua New Guinea.
Head of State: King Charles III of Britain.
Prime Minister: James Marape
Capital: Port Morsley
Currency: Kina
