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More than 300 buried in Papua New Guinea landslide, local media states

More than 300 individuals and over 1,100 houses were buried by a huge landslide that levelled a. remote village in northern Papua New Guinea, regional media. reported on Saturday.

Hundreds are feared dead in the landslide that struck Kaokalam. town in Enga Province, about 600 km (370 miles) northwest of. capital Port Moresby, around 3 a.m. on Friday (1900 GMT on. Thursday).

The landslide in the Pacific country north of Australia. buried more than 300 individuals and 1,182 houses, the Papua New. Guinea Post Courier stated, pointing out comments from a member of the. nation's parliament, Aimos Akem. Akem did not instantly. respond to request for comment via social media.

More than six towns had been affected by the landslide in. the province's Mulitaka region, Australia's Department of. Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said on Saturday.

Australia's High Commission in Port Moresby remains in close. contact with PNG authorities for additional evaluations on the. level of the damage and casualties, a DFAT representative said. in a declaration.

The Australian Broadcasting Corp reported on Saturday that. 4 bodies had actually been obtained from the location after emergency. teams reached the sparsely populated location, where the death toll. is anticipated to rise.

The landslide has actually obstructed highway gain access to, making helicopters. the only way to reach the area, the broadcaster reported.

Social network footage published by villager Ninga Function showed. people climbing over rocks, rooted out trees and mounds of dirt. looking for survivors. Women might be heard weeping in the. background.

Prime Minister James Marape has said disaster authorities, the. Defence Force and the Department of Functions and Highways were. assisting with relief and healing efforts.

(source: Reuters)