Tribal feuds have also increased security risks after the disaster.
Ruth Kissam, a community organizer in Enga province, said giant boulders from one tribe's land fell onto a residential town occupied by another tribe.
“There will be tension,” she said. “There is already tension.”
Even before the disaster, the region was facing problems tribal conflicts That led to people fleeing surrounding villages, with many becoming concentrated in the community buried under the landslide. In September last year, much of Enga was closed off by the government and under a curfew, with no flights in or out.
As the search for the dead and living continues, anger and violence have increased.
A feud flared between two clans on Saturday morning, killing people and burning dozens of homes, said Seran Aktoprak, chief of mission at the International Organization for Migration's Papua New Guinea office. He added that the threat of violence makes it more difficult to provide aid.
Officials in Papua New Guinea also stressed the need for calm.
“Following the inspection conducted by the team, it was determined that the damage is extensive and requires immediate and concerted action from all players,” said the letter from government officials who visited the site.
The landslide hit the village around 3 a.m. on Friday, when many residents were sleeping. Some of the boulders that buried homes and cut off a major highway were larger than shipping containers. Even in a region with frequent severe storms and earthquakes, the landslide has prompted intense expressions of grief from across the country and beyond — including the White House.
“Jill and I are heartbroken by the loss of life and devastation caused by the landslide in Papua New Guinea,” President Biden said in a statement after the disaster. “Our prayers are with all the families affected by this tragedy and all the first responders who put themselves in harm's way to help their fellow citizens.”
Christopher Cottrell contributed reporting.