A landslide in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea, has left hundreds missing, leading local authorities to suspend search efforts and designate the site as a mass burial ground.
Only 11 bodies have been recovered so far, with estimates of the missing ranging from at least 670 to as many as 2,000.
Difficult terrain and severed roads hampered rescue operations. Over 7,800 residents lost their homes in the May 24 landslide.
Authorities in Enga Province, central Papua New Guinea, announced on the 6th that they had suspended search operations related to a landslide that occurred in the region. While it's estimated that hundreds of people are buried, the authorities are no longer recovering bodies and instead plan to designate the site as a mass grave. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Papua office, only 11 bodies have been found so far. Due to the challenging terrain and the inaccessibility of surrounding roads, rescue operations have been nearly impossible. Although the exact number of missing persons is unclear, the IOM estimates at least 670, while the Papua government estimates around 2,000. This landslide occurred on May 24th, resulting in over 7,800 residents losing their homes.
