16 missing after PNG landslide

PORT MORESEBY - Three bodies have been recovered and 16 people are missing, feared dead, after a massive landslide wiped out a remote Papua New Guinea village.

Villagers had to walk three hours to alert authorities in Morobe Province, on PNG's northwest coast, after days of continual heavy rains caused the landslide early on Monday.

Authorities and local media reported on Wednesday at least five Firangka village houses were wiped out in the Sialum District when the face of an overlooking mountain slid for more than 500m, carving up 200m at its widest.

PNG's National newspaper reported a village headcount showed 19 people, including women and children, were missing.

"It came so suddenly there was nothing we could do," said villager Bobby Toby, a retired teacher.

"There were no warning signs, no earthquakes, it just happened," he said.

Deputy Provincial administrator Patilias Gamato and other local officials visited the remote site by helicopter on Tuesday.

Gamato said PNG's National Disaster and Emergency Office would see relief supplies reach the area by Thursday.

"Morobe province has a record of disasters that occur during the wet period and everyone, especially remote areas, should be cautious," he said.

The bodies of a woman and two men were recovered on Monday, while villagers remain optimistic survivors will be found.

Australian relief and aid services based in PNG's capital Port Moresby are gathering information and assessing the situation.

The village is located in the Zongefifi area about 90km northeast of Lae, PNG's second largest city, and sits on the fringes of the rugged Sarawaget Range.

- AAP