The government figure is roughly triple the UN estimate of 670 killed by the landslide in the South Pacific island nation’s mountainous interior. The death toll of 670 was based on calculations by Yambali village and Enga provincial officials that more than 150 homes had been buried by the landslide. Mr Mana said the landslide would have a major economic impact on the entire country. The purpose of the visit was to decide whether Papua New Guinea’s government needed to officially request more international support. Earth-moving equipment used by Papua New Guinea’s military was being transported to the disaster scene 250 miles from the east coast city of Lae.
