People dig through mud and rocks on 28 May, 2024, after a major landslide in Yambali village in Enga province, Papua New Guinea. Photo: Supplied / World Vision
New Zealand geotech experts in Papua New Guinea have advised that more than 7000 people in part of Enga province be relocated immediately, because of the risk of another landslide.
Included are people who have been already forced to leave their homes because of the massive landslide almost two weeks ago.
Some have since built makeshift shelters in the high risk zones.
The geotechnical team found the areas were highly volatile, with cracks forming in the ground.
Meanwhile, the 14-day window for search and recovery provided by the Enga provincial administrator will end on Friday.
It means the government will stop searching for bodies, and the landslide site will be designated as a mass burial site.
PNG's National Disaster Centre has said more than 2000 people were buried by the landslide but the actual number is unknown.
Some of the victims of the disaster received food supplies from aid agencies earlier this week.
The aid arrived as the UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported more rock falls in the area.
Mohamud Omer, who is with the IOM on the ground, said 7847 people in the area had been affected by the initial landslide while around 1650 had been displaced from their homes.