At least five dead in PNG landslide

5:42 am on 2 February 2021

Five people have been confirmed dead from a landslide in Papua New Guinea's Bulolo district.

Bulolo district, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.

Bulolo district, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

The Post Courier reports the five were part of a family of alluvial miners swept away by a landslide that triggered flooding of the Vibo River.

A district administrator said bodies of three adults and two children were retrieved from the disaster area after being swept away by the flood and debris.

The incident happened last week.

A search is ongoing for three more people who had also been swept away.

A search and rescue team has been joined by local villagers and Morobe province disaster officials.

The Bulolo MP Sam Basil has been on hand to help deliver relief supplies and coffins for the bodies.

He told the newspaper it was important to ensure the deceased have a proper burial.