Devastating Avalanche Tears Through Remote Papua New Guinea Village, Leaving Over 100 Dead

In the northern part of Papua New Guinea, a devastating avalanche struck a remote village at around 3 a.m. on Friday, leaving over 100 people dead as reported by the Australian public broadcaster ABC. The landslide occurred in the town of Kookalam in the province of None, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of the capital, Port Moresby.

Elizabeth Laruma, a neighbor who witnessed the tragedy, said that houses were buried and entire town seemed to have disappeared when sudden avalanche from nearby mountain caught locals off guard while they were sleeping. The regional service of American network NBC reported that the avalanche destroyed houses, gardens and blocked access to the town.

Papua New Guinea faces significant challenges with poverty and lack of infrastructure, particularly in remote areas where basic services like healthcare and education are scarce despite its rich natural resources. The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to seismic and volcanic activity, experiencing about 7,000 earthquakes a year mostly of moderate intensity. A 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit the central region of the country on Tuesday without causing any reported casualties or significant damage.