Sixteen people have died from cold and hunger while trekking in Papua New Guinea's Morobe province.
The newspaper The National reported the group perished in Sarawaget Mountain range while trekking to an evangelical church commemoration.
They were travelling to Indagen to celebrate the 100 years anniversary of the first Lutheran missionary in Kabwum district when they were caught up in bad weather.
PNG's prime minister James Marape visited Kabwum soon after confirmation of the deaths, to pay his respects to the families of the dead trekkers.
Mr Marape has reportedly promised to allocate $US2.9 million for feasibility studies and construction of a new road link between Lae and Kabwum road via Indagen.