At least 21 people lost their lives after a massive landslide struck the highlands of Papua New Guinea early Friday morning, local authorities and media reported.

The disaster occurred around 2 a.m. in the remote village of Kukas, located in the Enga province, flattening several homes while residents were asleep, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Enga Governor Peter Ipatas said that locals reported up to 30 fatalities, while emergency crews had so far recovered 18 bodies from under the debris. Police officials later confirmed that 21 people were killed in the disaster.

Rescue operations are continuing despite difficult terrain and limited access to the affected area. Emergency response teams and volunteers have been deployed to assist survivors and recover bodies.

The landslide left entire sections of the village buried, with residents using simple tools to search for missing relatives. Eyewitnesses described scenes of devastation, saying “the ground suddenly gave way,” and that “houses disappeared within seconds.”

No immediate response was received from UN humanitarian officials regarding the incident. However, humanitarian groups in the country warned that heavy rainfall and unstable soil conditions continue to pose significant risks in the mountainous Enga region.

The tragedy follows a similar catastrophic landslide in May 2024, when the United Nations estimated that around 670 villagers were killed in Enga, while Papua New Guinea’s government said more than 2,000 people had been buried alive.

Authorities have urged residents in landslide-prone regions to remain cautious as rescue and recovery efforts continue. (ILKHA)