More than 200 houses are reported to have been burnt down by security personnel in the Papua New Guinea gold mining town of Porgera.
The Post Courier reports the local MP Nixon Mangape and several local leaders said more than 200 houses, some of them permanent, were razed to the ground.
Papua New Guinea flag. Photo: supplied
The incident happened in the village of Wingima during an early morning raid on Friday.
The paper reports claims that illegal miners were living in the houses, belonging to landowners of the special mining lease area.
Angry locals attacked and injured an Australian man trying to take pictures of the burning houses.
The paper reports thousands of families have been left homeless.
Mr Mangape says it's the second time the village has been burnt down and he has called for long term solution like relocation by the mine developers Barrick Gold.