Last week, a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea (PNG) buried more than 2,000 people alive, the national disaster center reported on Monday. The treacherous terrain and difficulty in delivering aid are diminishing hopes of finding survivors.

Local authorities' estimates of those buried around Yambali village in Enga province have been rising since Friday's landslide. Initially, a U.N. agency estimated over 670 deaths on Sunday.

However, the National Disaster Center increased this figure to 2,000 in a letter to the U.N. on Sunday, which was made public on Monday. The landslide also caused significant destruction to buildings and food gardens.

"The situation remains unstable as the landslip continues to shift slowly, posing ongoing danger to both the rescue teams and survivors alike," stated the letter.

About 4,000 people lived near the affected area, according to CARE International PNG country director Justine McMahon. However, accurate population estimates are challenging due to PNG's last reliable census in 2000 and the presence of remote mountainous villages. A new census is scheduled for 2024.

The unstable terrain, remote location, and nearby tribal warfare are hindering relief efforts. Emergency crews, led by PNG's defense personnel, are on the ground, but the first excavator only arrived late Sunday, according to a U.N. official. Social media footage showed villagers and local media teams using shovels, sticks, and their hands to find survivors, with women weeping in the background.

So far, six bodies have been recovered. The U.N. stated that the death toll could change as rescue efforts continue for days. PNG media reported that residents rescued a couple trapped under rubble after hearing their cries for help. Johnson and Jacklyn Yandam described their rescue as a miracle, having been trapped for nearly eight hours before being saved.

Approximately 1,250 people have been displaced by the landslide, which occurred in Enga province early Friday. Over 150 houses were buried, and about 250 were abandoned. The debris is estimated to be around eight meters (26.3 feet) deep, making clearance difficult, according to McMahon from CARE.

Water continues to flow under the debris, making it extremely dangerous for residents and rescue teams to clear the area, the U.N. migration agency reported. The rescue team, led by Serhan Aktoprak of the U.N. migration agency's mission in PNG, will continue looking for survivors until residents ask them to stop. The team currently has eight vehicles and hopes for additional resources soon.

Tribal violence in the region has raised security concerns, with the military escorting rescue convoys. Eight people were killed, and numerous properties were destroyed on Saturday. PNG granted arrest powers to its military in February following a surge of tribal violence, including an ambush that killed at least 26 men.

The landslide also impacted a highway near the Porgera gold mine, operated by Barrick Gold through its joint venture with China's Zijin Mining. Barrick reported having enough fuel on site to operate for 40 days, with other critical supplies available for longer.