More than 2,000 people are feared to have been buried under a landslide in Papua New Guinea, the government said on Monday.
A UN agency placed the death toll at potentially more than 670 people, agencies reported, but few of those buried are expected to survive.
Tribal warfare in the area and a difficult terrain have made it increasingly difficult for aid workers to reach the site and look for survivors after disaster struck three days ago.
The landslide crashed through six villages in the Enga region of northern Papua New Guinea in the early hours of Friday morning when a part of Mount Mungalo collapsed, burying scores of homes with people inside.
"I have 18 of my family members buried under the debris and soil that I am standing on, and a lot more family members in the village I cannot count," resident Evit Kambu told Reuters. "But I cannot retrieve the bodies so I am standing here helplessly."
Only seven bodies have been recovered so far and more than 72 hours since the incident, residents have resorted to digging through the debris with their hands, spades and sticks in an attempt to reach survivors.
"The land mass is still sliding, rocks are falling from the mountain," UN migration agency official Serhan Aktoprak told AFP.
The disaster centre said the landslip continued to pose a danger to survivors and emergency teams, and called for international help in the rescue effort.
Australia announced a $1.6 million aid package, as its defence forces have already started providing logistical support on the ground. China also said it would provide assistance with the search as well as post-disaster reconstruction.
Mr Aktoprak said the ground remained unstable as water continued to flow, making it difficult for debris to be properly cleared. Rescue efforts and the arrival of heavy machinery have also been obstructed by tribal fighting nearby.
Aid agencies estimate more than 1,000 survivors have been displaced.
Since the beginning of the year, Papua New Guinea has been hit by a number of floods, landslides and earthquakes.
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The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
