Landslide displaces over 60 families in West Sepik

The West Sepik Provincial Disaster Office and the Sandaun Provincial Administration are moving to provide emergency relief to dozens of families following a devastating landslide in East Wapei of Lumi District on Sunday, March 15.

Provincial Disaster Committee Chairman Timothy Thecklan convened an urgent meeting today with key stakeholders including the Department of Works and Highways, Lands and Physical Planning, Community Development, Police, and Agriculture, to coordinate a multi-sectoral response.

Reports from the ground indicate the landslide buried six houses and left another seven teetering on the edge of collapse. In total, 23 homes were affected, displacing more than 60 families.

Beyond the destruction of shelter, the disaster has wiped out vital food gardens and contaminated local water wells. While the scale of property damage is significant, Provincial Disaster Coordinator Clement Filfi confirmed that no fatalities have been reported.

The landslide has dealt a major blow to provincial infrastructure, damaging a section of the highway linking Wewak to Vanimo. This severing of the main artery has effectively cut off local communities from essential services, including schools, hospitals, and markets.

Thecklan said the Department of Works and Highways will conduct a formal inspection to assess the full extent of the road damage and provide a technical report for restoration efforts.

With government provincial accounts currently closed, the administration is reaching out to the private sector for immediate assistance.

"We are writing to business houses to assist with relief supplies such as rice, tinned fish, and other essentials for the affected families," Thecklan said.

This is the second major landslide to hit the area in following a similar disaster in 2024. Filfi said Lumi’s mountainous terrain and heavy annual rainfall makes the region highly susceptible to such disasters.

The Provincial Disaster Committee is continuing its assessment to verify the exact number of affected individuals to ensure aid is distributed accurately.