Scene of landslide at Maip Mulitaka, Enga province, Papua New Guinea, May 24, 2024. Photo: AFP/VNA

Serhan Aktoprak, chief of UN migration agency in the capital Port Moresby, estimated that more than 150 houses were buried. He assessed the situation as very bad as "land is still sliding, rocks are falling, ground soil is cracking due to constant increased pressure and ground water is running.”

According to the UN official, more than 1,000 people have evacuated from Kaokalam. Every tool has been used to remove the victims' bodies from the pile of rock and soil.

Papua New Guinea government officials announced that the disaster occurred in Kaokalam village in Porgera town of Enga province, about 600 km northwest of the capital Port Moresby, at around 3 a.m. on Friday when villagers were sleeping.