A catastrophic landslide in the remote northern region of Papua New Guinea has left more than 670 people feared dead, according to a UN official. The disaster, which struck the village of Yambali, has devastated the community, burying more than 150 houses under debris.

A Papua New Guinea government official has told the United Nations more than 2,000 people were believed to have been buried alive by Friday’s landslide and has formally asked for international help.

The government figure is roughly triple the UN estimate of 670 killed by the landslide in the South Pacific island nation’s mountainous interior.

Serhan Aktoprak, the Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Papua New Guinea, provided the updated death toll on Sunday, marking a significant increase from earlier reports which estimated over 100 fatalities. The revised figures follow new assessments that found the population of the village to be much higher than initially reported, suggesting thousands more residents were affected.

The landslide has resulted in the evacuation of over 250 houses, displacing approximately 1,250 people. Many survivors have sought temporary shelter with relatives and friends in nearby areas. Despite rescue efforts, the region remains perilous as continuous rockfalls and soil instability pose extreme risks.

In the aftermath, villagers have been digging through the rubble using makeshift tools such as digging sticks, spades, and agricultural forks in a desperate attempt to recover bodies. The landslide, which occurred around 3 a.m. local time on Friday, left a swath of destruction the size of four football fields on a steep mountainside slope. Footage from the scene shows extensive mud and rock slides and locals struggling to search for survivors.

Papua New Guinea, a Pacific nation with a population of approximately 10 million, is rich in natural resources but lags economically compared to its neighbors. The country faces significant challenges, including high crime rates and the difficulties posed by its vast, rugged terrain. The diverse mountainous landscape and lack of infrastructure make it challenging and costly to provide essential services such as water, electricity, and sanitation.

The remote location of the disaster, about 600 kilometers (372 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby, further complicates relief efforts. The country’s geography, characterized by scattered tribes across inaccessible regions, exacerbates the difficulty of delivering aid and upgrading services.

As the search for survivors continues, the full scale of the tragedy is becoming increasingly apparent, highlighting the urgent need for improved disaster response and infrastructure development in Papua New Guinea.