At least 2000 people have been buried alive after a massive landslide swept over a remote village in Papua New Guinea.
"The landslip buried more than 2,000 people alive and caused major destruction," the country's national disaster center notified the UN headquarters in the capital, Port Moresby.
A remote hillside community in Enga province was destroyed when a section of Mount Mungalo collapsed in the early hours of Friday morning, burying hundreds of houses and the people who were sleeping inside.
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The disaster office stated that the landslip "caused major destruction to buildings and food gardens and had a significant impact on the country's economic lifeline."
The letter, received by UN authorities on Monday morning, stated that the major roadway to Porgera Mine was "completely blocked".
"The situation remains unstable as the landslip continue to shift slowly, posing ongoing danger to both the rescue teams and survivors alike."
The magnitude of the disaster necessitated "immediate and collaborative actions from all players," including the army and national and regional rescuers.
It urged the UN to advise Papua New Guinea's development partners "and other international friends" of the current developments.
It recommended that assistance be organized through the disaster center.
