Six villages in the Maip Mulitaka area located in the Enga Province of Papua New Guinea were hit by a landslide in the early hours of 24 May, resulting in the destruction of dozens of homes and trapping more than 2,000 villagers under earth and rubble.
Current rescue efforts have been hampered by several geographical factors such as the Maip Mulitaka‘s remote location as well as severely damaged infrastructure and nearby tribal violence.
At press time, extensive efforts are still being made to rescue survivors or remove bodies from rubble as deep as 10 metres while being extensively challenged by a lack of adequate extrication equipment.
Local authorities have reported that about 7,900 victims from the surrounding villages have been evacuated while thousands are still missing as the earth around ground zero continues to shift and churn.
Our hearts go out to the families and peoples affected by the catastrophe, and we pray for God’s swift intervention to bring comfort, safety, and healing amidst the devastation.
We call upon all churches worldwide to join us in prayer in this dark period of profound grief and loss.
Click here for CWM’s Call to Prayer.