OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Papua New Guinea - Landslide
4 April 2002


This report is based on information provided by the Papua New Guinea
National Disaster Management Office (NDMO)  through the OCHA Regional
Disaster Response Advisor (RDRA) for the Pacific in Suva, Fiji, as well as
media reports.


1.  On Tuesday, 2 April, between midnight and 2 a.m. local time, a
landslide hit Markham District in Marobe Province, in the remote central
highlands of Papua New Guinea, 200 km north of the capital Port Moresby.

2.  Three villages were buried after the collapse of one side of a cliff
into the river, possibly triggered by heavy rains and a small earthquake
of 5.3 magnitude (Richter Scale) on Monday, 2 April. Eight people have
been confirmed dead so far but the death toll is believed to be closer to
27, according to the NDMO, since 22 to 30 people are still missing,
probably buried in the mud. Eleven people were also reported injured.

3.  The Papua New Guinea NDMO sent a mission on Wednesday, 3 April to
assess the damage and the needs. Its report is expected early next week.
The Provincial Administrator and the Provincial Disaster Coordinator are
also on site.

4.  OCHA's RDRA in Fiji is in close contact with the United Nations
Resident Coordinator in Port Moresby and the NDMO and will revert with
further information as soon as it becomes available.

5.  No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to
date.

6.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. R. Muller / Ms. M. Spaak / Ms. C. Cassabalian
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 31 31 /17 28/11 73

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 56
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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