On Papua New Guinea Landslide Tragedy, PM Modi Offers India's 'All Possible Support And Assistance'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday offered all possible support and assistance from India in the wake of the devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea. Some 2,000 people are feared buried in a landslide that destroyed a remote highland community in the early hours of May 24.

With rescue and relief efforts hampered by the remote location, a severed road link, heavy rainfall and nearby tribal violence, Enga provincial administrator Sandis Tsaka warned the disaster could yet worsen.

“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and damage caused by the devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea. Our heartfelt condolences to the affected families and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. India is ready to offer all possible support and assistance,” the prime minister posted on X.

READ MORE: More Than 2,000 Buried In Landslide In Papua New Guinea; India, US, France, China Send Condolences

According to the Papua New Guinea government, more than 2,000 people are believed to have been buried alive in a landslide in the South Pacific island nation, after the side of a mountain came down in the early hours of Friday morning when the village of Yambali was asleep.

The settlement is located in a restive and remote area in the interior of the poor, rural nation off the northern coast of Australia, making search and rescue efforts complicated and hazardous. A top provincial official said Tuesday Papua New Guinea is evacuating an estimated 7,900 people from villages near the site of a deadly landslide.

UN Development Programme official Nicholas Booth said many people had refused to evacuate, holding out hope their loved ones would be found. The immediate focus was the delivery of aid and clearing up the affected area, he said. In the long term, geological surveys would be needed to determine how many people would need to be permanently relocated, Booth said.

“This landslide has blocked the road westward, so not only are there challenges in accessing the village itself, but it does mean the communities beyond that are also cut off.” The isolated communities, with as many as 30,000 people, had enough supplies for the coming weeks but the situation could worsen in the coming months, he said.

(With agency inputs)

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