Thousands now feared buried under landslide

THE number of people feared buried after a vast landslide in Papua New Guinea has risen to more than 2,000 fewer than Yesterday dozen bodies had been recovered after Friday's disaster, with rescue operations hampered by rubble up to 32ft deep and a lack of equipment.

- Mark Reynolds

The UN estimated those lost at 670 but the country's National Disaster Centre feared thousands may be beneath the mud and rubble.

A village with a population of 3,800 was wiped out when a mountainside in the remote Enga province collapsed.

Minister Prime James Marape yesterday expressed his condolences and ordered the defence force and emergency agencies to the area, about 370 miles from the capital Port Moresby. But locals in devastated Kaokalam village said they were still waiting for official rescue operations.