- Stock markets diverge as Hong Kong sinks, oil prices fall
- US trade gap narrowest in five months as imports slip
- Stay and 'you are going to die': Florida braces for next hurricane
- England 96-1 after Salman's century lifts Pakistan to 556
- Hollywood star Idris Elba champions African cinema in Ghana
- Djokovic rolls Cobolli to make Shanghai Masters last 16
- Milan's Hernandez receives two-game suspension after referee rant
- Geoffrey Hinton, soft-spoken godfather of AI
- Ex-Barcelona and Spain great Iniesta retires aged 40
- Duo wins Physics Nobel for 'foundational' AI breakthroughs
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free in 2025 after cleared of separate sex crimes
- China slaps provisional tariffs on EU brandy imports
- Ex-skipper Skelton eyes Wallabies November return
- Spanish great Iniesta leaves indelible legacy after retirement
- Indian Kashmir elects first regional government in a decade
- Hong Kong stocks crash, oil prices retreat on fading China boost
- Man City accuse Premier League of 'misleading' claims after legal case
- Duo wins Physics Nobel for key breakthroughs in AI
- Agha defies England as Pakistan post 515-8 in first Test
- September second-warmest on record: EU climate monitor
- Pastor wanted by US for sex trafficking to run for Philippine senate
- Mozambican writer Mia Couto dreams future leaders set an 'example'
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free soon after cleared of separate sex crimes
- China says to take anti-dumping measures against EU brandy imports
- German suspect in 'Maddie' case cleared in separate sex crimes trial
- Israel expands offensive against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
- China stocks rally fizzles on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- Bangladesh's Yunus says no elections before reforms
- England strike twice as Pakistan reach 397-6 at lunch in first Test
- China stocks rally peters out on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- Taiwan's Foxconn says building world's largest 'superchip' plant
- Kenya's deputy president faces impeachment vote
- N. Korean soldiers 'highly likely' killed in Ukraine: Seoul
- 'Appeals Centre' to referee EU social media disputes
- US Supreme Court to hear 'ghost guns' regulation case
- 'Small' oil leaks detected in Samoa after NZ navy shipwreck
- Nobel literature jury may go for non-Western writer
- At Istanbul church, blessed spring offers hope to Christians and Muslims
- From Bolivia to Indonesia, deforestation continues apace
- Myanmar to send rep to regional summit for first time in three years
- Prabowo set to lead bolder Indonesia on world stage
- Tampa zoo rushes Chompers the porcupine and others to safety as Milton nears
- Shanghai stocks pare early surge on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- New Japan PM to hold talks on ASEAN sidelines
- Record number of climbers chase 14-peak dream in Tibet
- Former South Korea clinic for US 'comfort women' to be demolished
- China holds off on fresh stimulus but 'confident' will hit growth target
- Chiefs battle past Saints to stay unbeaten
- Deal on climate aid hangs in balance at UN COP29 summit
- Royals hit back against Yankees, Tigers maul Guardians
RBGPF | -0.46% | 60.52 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.53% | 24.57 | $ | |
CMSD | 0% | 24.79 | $ | |
SCS | -0.54% | 12.881 | $ | |
RIO | -4.71% | 66.49 | $ | |
NGG | 0.4% | 65.74 | $ | |
GSK | -1.08% | 38.218 | $ | |
RELX | 0.97% | 46.49 | $ | |
BTI | 0.01% | 35.205 | $ | |
JRI | 0.23% | 13.21 | $ | |
AZN | 0.07% | 76.925 | $ | |
BP | -3.22% | 32.105 | $ | |
BCC | 1.14% | 142.9 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.15% | 6.87 | $ | |
VOD | -0.05% | 9.685 | $ | |
BCE | -0.45% | 33.38 | $ |
Body recovery effort 'called off' at Papua New Guinea landslide site
Hundreds of villagers feared buried in Papua New Guinea landslide will not be recovered, the military told AFP Wednesday, describing the disaster zone as "too dangerous" to operate in.
"All efforts to recover bodies have been called off because of the danger" of further landslides, Major Joe Aku said. "Recovery is non-negotiable at this stage."
Aku -- one of the leading military officers overseeing the site -- declared the highland area a "no-go zone" that will be cordoned off to the community and authorities until further notice.
"It is too dangerous to be on-site at this stage. This is the worst and biggest landslide I have seen," he said.
Papua New Guinea is one of the world's most disaster-prone regions and landslides are extremely common in its highlands.
Initial Papua New Guinea government estimates said as many as 2,000 people may have been buried in the May 24 slide, although Aku said this number could be closer to 650.
Only nine bodies have been recovered, according to local health authorities.
An internal report by Papua New Guinea's mining and geohazards department, obtained by AFP on Tuesday, warned there was a "high likelihood of further landslides" at the site "in the immediate future".
The report concluded that "any access to the area should be restricted to experts".
Local authorities estimate 7,849 people live in two wards hit by the disaster.
Many of these people have been evacuated and are relying on the aid of agencies or partner countries to survive, Aku said.
He added discussions were underway with the community and local authorities about a possible memorial for those "buried under the rubble".
J.Oliveira--AMWN