PM sends condolences,commits to relief supplies

PRIME Minister James Marape has offered his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the massive Enga landslide, saying authorities are already providing relief assistance and recovery work.
“We are sending in disaster officials, PNG Defence Force, and the Works and Highways department to meet provincial and district officials in Enga and start relief work, recovery of bodies, and reconstruction of infrastructure.”
UN resident coordinator Kesang Phuntsho in a statement expressed his condolences to the victims and said an initial assessment conducted by the emergency response coordination team had identified immediate need for food, shelter and medical supplies.
“The UN is monitoring the situation closely with relevant authorities to determine the extent of damage, casualties and possible assistance that may be required for those impacted,” Phuntsho said.
United States President Joe Biden also offered condolences.
“Jill and I are heartbroken by the loss of life and devastation caused by the landslide. Our prayers are with all the families impacted by this tragedy and all the first responders who are putting themselves in harm’s way to help their fellow citizens. I have directed my administration to stay in close touch with our PNG partners.”
Enga disaster chairman Sandis Tsaka said after an assessment at the site over the weekend, the following were agreed to:

• THE evacuation of impacted communities to safer areas by the PNGDF assisted by other agencies;
• THE health authority to undertake emergency medical response to people needing medical attention and to handle recovered bodies from the disaster area, and prevent the possible outbreak of diseases;
• DISASTER office to set up a temporary centre to cater for displaced people and soldiers to provide security;
• PROVIDE necessities such as water, food, clothes and utensils to displaced people.

Tsaka has declared Maip-Mulitaka a “disaster zone” and Yambeli ward seven and Lapak ward 14 as “evacuation areas”. All people living there will be evacuated and relocated.

Two villages buried, 300-plus missing

BY MAJELEEN YANEI
A MASSIVE landslide in Enga’s Laiagam in the early hours of Friday buried two villages with 300-plus missing, presumed dead.
Former Laiagap-Porgera member Mark Ipuia told The National from the disaster area that more than 300 persons from the Kipula tribe in Maip Mulitaka were missing, plus 1,182 houses, five vehicles, pigs, trade stores and other properties destroyed in the landslide.
Enga administrator Sandis Tsaka said there were emergency measures that the provincial disaster office has set in place to attend to survivors.
Ipuia said everyone was asleep and were trapped inside their homes when rolling stones and mountains of debris from the Timuli Mountain, about a kilometre apart, covered them.
Timuli is part of the Mungal chain of mountains, situated in the middle of Mungalo and Poroam between Wabag and the Porgera mine.

Affected are about 4,000 persons living at the foot of Timuli, namely the Yambali ward, that includes settlers from Wabag’s Maramuni and Pogera who fled from tribal fights and the Lyaim Nete people that share the boarder with East Sepik who have settled there to access basic services.
Ipuai said: ‘’The Kaukam and Tulipar villages were completely buried while the nearby Lapak and Kapak villages were also affected and are under imminent threat as the landslide is still active and continuing down the mountain to destroy the entire area.
“So far, 21 bodies have been retrieved including that of the village magistrate Peter Wamlidip. Others are still underground as they were crushed by huge stones. Soil debris is about 30 meters thick. The towering mounds of rubble and mud will need machines to clear.
“Those who sustain injuries have been take to Enga hospital. Families are mourning and will bury those who have been retrieved.The death toll is expected to increase as search and rescue operations continue.”
Lasen Iso from Poroam said: ‘’It struck like an exploding bomb and in a split of a second. Yambali area is covered. We fled from the house following sounds of rumbling rocks, most of the Kaukam and Tulipar villagers cannot be seen and we think they were all killed.”
He said last month, they noticed signs of earth cracks and falling stones but did not think that the mountain would collapse.
Local Eddie Peter said: ‘’I heard strange sounds and my husband and I ran out. It came like sea-wave and was only a few meters to reach our house and my husband turned back as our four children were sleeping. I fled and they were all trapped and killed.”
Maip-Mulitaka ward councillor Jaman Yandam said: “I was in Lae last week and learnt of the incident on my way to the village in the early hours on Friday.
“At around 2am to 3am, I tried calling my wives and children but could not reach them. I arrived home at dawn to a lifeless soil mound and wreckage of properties. My two wives and seven children, four sons and three daughters ages between five to 18, were no where to be seen.
“My 20-bedroom lodge, beer club, two buses, one dyna, three landcrusers, a generator set and chainsaw which cost about K2 million were all covered. People from neighbouring villages like Poroam and Mugalo who were drinking at the club were also killed.”
About 4,000 persons are reportedly displaced and are living at Tumundan, Tombaip, Lumbapes and Mulitata station which is about three kilometres away in fear of more landslide.
Enga disaster chairman and provincial administrator Sandis Tsaka said the total land area affected was 200 square metres with a depth of six to eight
metres. He said about 150 metres of the main supply road between Porgera and Wabag was covered by debris effectively cutting off the road to the just re-opened gold mine.
An inter-agency emergency response committee has been developed comprising the provincial disaster office, the provincial health authority, police, defence force, provincial works unit and representatives of UN representatives based in the province.