The country's National Disaster Centre said in a letter to the UN that the landslide has caused major destruction to buildings, food gardens and has also damaged the economy.

該國的國家災害中心在給聯合國的一封信中說，山體滑坡對建築物、菜園造成了嚴重破壞，也損害了經濟。

The main highway to Poguera Mine has been completely blocked. This landslide hit Enga province which is around 600 kilometres northwest of the capital Port Moresby.

通往波蓋拉礦區的主要公路已完全堵塞。這次山體滑坡襲擊了恩加省，該省位於首都莫爾茲比港西北約 600 公里處。

It happened on Friday. The country has urged for international assistance to help manage this disaster.

災難發生在星期五。該國已敦促國際社會提供援助，幫助管理這場災難。

Well my colleague Katie Watson joins us live from Sydney. So Katie, just that difficult news that 2,000 people have been killed in this landslide.

我的同事凱蒂-沃森（Katie Watson）正在雪梨為我們做現場報道。凱蒂，我們剛剛得知有2000人在山體滑坡中喪生的不幸消息。

There was certainly concern that the death toll would rise but it's important to emphasise that these are estimated figures.

人們當然擔心死亡人數會上升，但必須強調的是，這些都是估計數字。

As of Sunday about five bodies had been recovered. It's very difficult to get to the rescue site.

截至週日，已找到約五具屍體。前往救援地點非常困難。

Getting heavy machinery there is also proving a challenge.

將重型機械運到那裡也是一個挑戰。

So villagers have been using shovels and sticks just to be able to get through the debris which in some places is as high as eight metres.

是以，村民們只能用鐵鍬和木棍穿過瓦礫，有些地方的瓦礫高達 8 米。

So these are still very much estimates based on how many houses were destroyed, how many people authorities think were in them at the time.

是以，這些數據在很大程度上仍然是根據有多少房屋被摧毀、當局認為當時有多少人在裡面等因素估算出來的。

And remember this was a landslide that hit around three in the morning, a time when most people of course would have been sleeping.

請記住，這是一次在凌晨三點左右發生的山體滑坡，而此時大多數人當然都在睡覺。

So there is concern of course of the heavy death toll but still numbers are very hard.

是以，死亡人數之多固然令人擔憂，但數字仍然非常難以確定。

Final numbers certainly won't be coming through anytime soon but certainly this estimate is a huge shock.

最終數字肯定不會很快出來，但這個估計數字肯定會讓人大吃一驚。

It's a massive number and of course the rescue mission is still very much underway.

這是一個龐大的數字，當然，救援任務仍在繼續。

And talk us through that rescue mission because we understand it's a difficult area to reach and it's been made even more difficult by local activities there.

請向我們介紹一下這次救援任務，因為我們知道這是一個很難到達的地區，當地的活動使救援變得更加困難。

That's right. As you said it's about 600 kilometres from the capital.

沒錯正如你所說，這裡距離首都約 600 公里。

It's a highland area that's not a stranger to landslides. It's also not a stranger to violence.

這個高原地區對山體滑坡並不陌生。這裡也不乏暴力事件。

A few months ago there was a massacre. There's tribal violence.

幾個月前發生了一場大屠殺。還有部落暴力。

There's concern that that is also hampering the rescue mission.

人們擔心這也會妨礙救援任務。

Of course in terms of transporting people in and out of the area, doing it after dark is a security concern.

當然，就運送人員進出該地區而言，天黑後進行運送是一個安全問題。

But also just logistically getting equipment to this remote area, getting assistance.

此外，還要從後勤角度出發，把設備運到這個偏遠地區，獲得援助。

There are humanitarian aid agencies on the ground who are trying to help with food and water and shelter and bedding.

當地的人道主義援助機構正在努力提供食物、水、住所和被褥。

And also the disaster centre has said, has called on international partners for assistance.

災難中心還表示，已經呼籲國際合作夥伴提供援助。

Here in Australia for example the prime minister has already said that it's standing by ready to help where it can.

例如，澳洲總理已經表示，澳洲隨時準備提供力所能及的幫助。

So it's a question of how to get that help as quickly as possible because of course it's still far from under control.

是以，問題是如何儘快獲得幫助，因為當然，情況還遠遠沒有得到控制。

Especially in an area where there's still water and there's still concern about the land still sliding.

特別是在一個還有水的地區，人們仍然擔心土地會滑動。

So concern about the land still sliding. This was an area where we described the people as growing their own food, as having food gardens.

是以，人們對土地的擔憂依然存在。在這個地區，我們曾描述人們自己種植食物，擁有菜園。

How much of an impact will this have on the local region given the destruction that we're seeing?

鑑於我們看到的破壞情況，這會對當地造成多大影響？

Well Papua New Guinea is a very rural population. Many people do live outside of the cities and in areas where they're growing their own food.

巴巴新幾內亞的農村人口非常多。許多人確實生活在城市之外，生活在自己種植糧食的地區。

And this is what we've seen is a huge area of houses and their gardens and their farmland.

我們看到的是一大片房屋、花園和農田。

It's completely wiped out and these people are obviously surviving on the land.

這裡已經完全被毀滅了，而這些人顯然是在這片土地上生存下來的。

And that's what they need to be able to sustain the communities.

而這正是他們能夠維持社區發展所需要的。

Which is why humanitarian aid agencies are trying to help the community and many of the community that's been displaced.

是以，人道主義援助機構正試圖幫助這個社區和許多流離失所的人。

People who've had to leave their homes because they're unsafe.

因為不安全而不得不離開家園的人們。

So we're still talking about a very difficult situation for those survivors.

是以，對於這些倖存者來說，我們談論的仍然是一個非常困難的局面。

And of course those survivors are also looking for their loved ones in among the debris.

當然，這些倖存者也在廢墟中尋找自己的親人。

Yes a very difficult situation. Katie Watson as always thanks very much.

是的，這是一個非常困難的局面。凱蒂-沃森，一如既往，非常感謝。