Papua New Guinea prime minister visits site of massive landslide estimated to have killed hundreds

By ROD McGUIRK
Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Papua New Guinea’s prime minister has visited the site of a massive landslide that is estimated to have buried hundreds of villagers in the South Pacific island nation’s mountainous interior a week ago. James Marape told hundreds who gathered near the devastated Yambali village on Friday that the list of governments and world leaders that have sent their condolences includes the United States, China, India, France, Malaysia and the Czech Republic. The first mechanized excavator arrived at the scene on Sunday, but has not been permitted to start removing the boulders, rocks and splintered trees that have buried a 150-to-200 meter (500-to-650 foot) stretch of the Enga province’s main highway because the ground is too unstable.