PNG authorities confirm over 2,000 buried alive in landslide

SYDNEY -- The Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Disaster Center (NDC) has confirmed that more than 2,000 people were buried alive after a massive landslide disaster occurred on Friday in Enga Province.

Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Pacific island country Serhan Aktoprak told Xinhua that the United Nations (UN) migration agency received the statement on Monday.

According to the statement issued by the center's acting director Lusete Laso Mana, the disaster also caused major destruction to buildings and food gardens, as well as led to a major impact on the economic lifeline of PNG.

"The main highway to Porgera Mine is completely blocked. The situation remains unstable as the landslip continues to shift slowly, posing ongoing danger to both the rescue teams and survivors alike," said Mana.

The acting director also noted that a joint government team inspected the affected village on Sunday and presented a cheque of 500,000 kinas ($128,796) to the Enga Provincial Government to provide immediate relief assistance.