Nine people have died after two landslides swept through the village of Kenagi, in Papua New Guinea's Eastern Highlands, late in the evening of Saturday 2 November 2013, and early in the morning of Sunday 3 November, burying eight houses and a section of the Highlands Highway, which connects the coastal city of Lae to the interior. In addition to those killed three people are being treated in hospital for what are described as serious injuries. At the time of writing only a single body, that of a ten year old boy, has been recovered, but there is not thought to be any hope of finding further survivors.
The approximate location of the November 2013 Kenagi landslides. Google Maps.
The landslides are said to have occurred after a sustained period of heavy rain. Landslides are are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall.
See also Three killed in Java landslide, Four people killed by landslide in North Sulawesi, Woman killed in New Zealand landslide, Five people killed by landslip at Java brickworks and At least six killed by West Java landslide.
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