Attachments
45 individuals affected
5 people injured
21 deaths (17 male, 4 female)
1 house destroyed
Context Overview
At approximately 2:00 a.m. on 31 October 2025, a major landslide struck Kukas Village in Unda Ward 30, Minamb Valley, within the Wapenamanda Rural Local Level Government area of Enga Province. The disaster affected a total of 45 individuals.
At the time of the incident, 28 people were temporarily staying in a large Enga communal house to attend a funeral gathering. The landslide buried the structure, resulting in the tragic loss of 21 lives (17 men and 4 women) including two children and a pregnant woman. Seven individuals survived, five of whom sustained injuries. Community members and local authorities later recovered all 21 bodies.
The communal house was situated just a few minutes’ walking from the main Highlands Highway and close proximity to the Minamb River. Most of the victims were members of the Yabalekin community from Lower Lai in Wapenamanda, who had traveled to Kukas Village for the funeral.
Local leaders reported that while minor landslides had occurred in the area over the past five years, no homes had previously been built at the affected site, and no significant damage had been recorded. The communal house where the funeral was being held had been recently constructed at the site affected by the landslide. Field observations and discussions with community members indicate that the area remains highly susceptible to future landslides, driven by unstable soil conditions and persistent heavy rainfall.
Kukas Village lies adjacent to the main Highlands Highway. Access to the landslide site from Mt. Hagen remains open, allowing vehicles to reach the area. However, travel from Wabag currently requires security escorts due to ongoing tribal conflict between the Yangakun and Yakuman tribes near the Wapenamanda Station area.