Over 100 feared dead in massive Papua New Guinea landslide

Locals are rushing to remove bodies from rubble after a massive landslide wreaked havoc on one of Australia’s closest neighbours.

A massive landslide has wreaked havoc in a village in Papua New Guinea.

The natural disaster hit Kaokalam Village in Enga Province at around about 3am, with residents saying as many as 100 people could have been killed.

Videos posted to social media have shown locals pulling bodies from the rubble.

It is still unclear whether local emergency services have arrived at Kaokalam, which is located 600km north west of Port Moresby.

“The landslide hit around three last night and it looks like more than 100 houses got buried. It is not yet known how many people were in those houses,” Vincent Pyati, president of the local Community Development Association, said.

“The number of victims is unknown.”

Aid agencies including the Papua New Guinea Red Cross and CARE said they had received confirmation of the landslide, but were working to find out more.

A massive landslide has wreaked havoc in a village in Papua New Guinea.

The natural disaster hit Kaokalam Village in Enga Province at around about 3am, with residents saying as many as 100 people could have been killed. Picture: Kindupan Kambii

It is still unclear whether local emergency services have arrived at Kaokalam, which is located 600km north west of Port Moresby. Picture: Kindupan Kambii

Enga Province.

“From what I can presume, it’s about 100-plus people who are buried beneath the ground,” one local said via the ABC.

“When this road is being closed off – and I don’t know how long it’s going to take – it’s going to have a really big impact on the people out there in terms of goods, fuel and services.

“It’s going to have a big impact on the lives of the people of Porgera and the mine as well.”