It's a week since Papua New Guinea (PNG) experienced a massive landslide in the Enga province , in the country's highlands. More than 7,800 people have been affected by the landslide , including more than 3,300 children. This could mean they've been displaced from their homes or are lacking access to basic necessities.
The exact death toll is still unknown, and estimates have varied, but the figure could be as many as 2,000 or more . Estimating deaths in disasters comes with a range of challenges and we may never know the actual number of lives lost. But even many survivors are likely to be facing serious injuries and illness, with warnings of a significant risk of disease outbreaks in the region.
So what are the potential health risks following a landslide? And what can we do to mitigate them? Like many natural disasters, landslides can lead to serious physical harms. Rapidly flowing water and debris can cause injury and death. People may become trapped as the landslide carries buildings, structures and people in an unpredictable manner.
The Enga landslide happened in the middle of the night, which sadly meant most people could not escape in time. Early efforts after a natural disaster almost always focus on minimizing casualties and providing essential and immediate medical care. Once the situation stabilizes, the health situation on the ground may require a risk assessment to review the potential public health impacts and further determine the needs of the community.
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