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In what has been described as “utter devastation,” a massive landslide in the Melanesian country of Papua New Guniea is feared to have killed at least 60 people, according to media reports.
“It was a big landslide and it covered a big area where there used to be small hamlets, so we are expecting a number of deaths,” National Disaster Center director Martin Mose told the Sydney Morning Herald.
The one kilometer-long (about 0.6 mile) landslide created by constant rain occurred near an ExxonMobil natural gas project on Tuesday in the country’s south, according to the publication.
The landslide “cut off transport and services” to at least 50,000 people in Enga’s Kompiam-Ambum electorate, according to Papua New Guinea-based The National newspaper.
Nanduka Yandi, an aid worker with U.S.-based Population Services International, told the Morning Herald that he was on the scene after the landslide occurred. “It covered 42 houses and only three or four people managed to escape. Everyone else died,” he told the paper.
“It is quite remote and yesterday there was hardly anyone here to dig out the bodies or help people. People lost their entire families. They are in shock,” Yandi added.
ExxonMobil told the Australia Broadcasting Corporation it restarted its $15 billion natural gas project after it was halted due to the landslide.