Survivors of a colossal landslide in Papua New Guinea's highlands have spoken about the warning signs they noticed hours before it flattened a village, killing upwards of 160 people.
More than a week after a massive landslide, people in Mulitaka , Papua New Guinea continue to use rocks and sticks to dig for loved ones, saying they have not given up hope of recovering bodies.
Locals who managed to escape the fatal rockfall at Mulitaka in Enga Province told the ABC they heard two loud cracks around 1am and 2am before the side of a large mountain gave way shortly afterwards."A rock has rolled down from the mountain up there, and there was a big bang … we came out of our houses and were calling others to wake up. Most people were still asleep," he said.
Houses are collapsed, trees are strewn across the ground and the sombre mood is occasionally broken by a distant shout or laugh. "From reports we received on engineering and seismic reports, the earth is still moving," Mr Marape said.Locals on the ground said it was difficult to know exactly how many people were in the village when the landslide hit, because many were visiting, including people who had been at a pub.Mr Wamblip said the tragedy has been difficult to come to terms with."My concern is a new land where I can resettle my family. When you have a land you build a home, you have clothes.
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Enga Province Png Papua New Guinea Landslide Landslip Rockfall Disaster Mountain Village Rubble Deaths
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