A massive landslide buried a village in Papua New Guinea five days ago.
Survivors are desperately digging through mud and debris with shovels and their bare hands. The landslide is estimated to be as high as a two-story building and covers a huge area.
Rescue workers believe it’s unlikely to find survivors.
Estimates of the dead vary widely: The government says over 2,000 were buried. The UN estimates around 670 are missing. Local leaders believe about 200 died. Only a few bodies have been recovered so far.
The Prime Minister blamed heavy rain and changing weather patterns for the disaster.
Aid workers arriving at the scene described a whole village buried under mud, including shops, a gas station, a lodge, a church, and a school.
Heavy machinery can’t be used yet because the ground is still unstable. Geologists are on their way to assess the risk of further landslides.
The UN migration agency is concerned about the health risks of decaying bodies under the debris.