Overview of the Papua New Guinea Landslide Disaster
The Papua New Guinea government has reported that a devastating landslide occurred on May 24, resulting in the loss of over 2,000 lives. This tragic event has prompted the country to seek international assistance in the aftermath of the disaster.
Comparison to Previous Landslide Tragedies
The casualty figure from the Papua New Guinea landslide surpasses that of the 2006 Southern Leyte, Philippines landslide, which claimed the lives of 1,126 individuals. The disaster in Papua New Guinea has been identified as the deadliest landslide of the twenty-first century.
Official Government Figures
The government’s estimate of the number of casualties is approximately three times higher than the United Nations’ estimate of 670. In a letter to the United Nations resident coordinator, the acting director of Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster Center described the landslide as burying over 2,000 people alive and causing significant destruction.
Request for Global Assistance
The South Pacific island nation has formally requested global aid to address the aftermath of the landslide and provide support to the affected communities.
About Mukul Sharma
Mukul Sharma is a New Delhi-based multimedia journalist with a focus on covering geopolitical developments within and beyond the Indian subcontinent. He is deeply engaged in reporting on various global affairs.
