More than 300 feared dead after massive landslide buries villages as rescuers race to find survivors in Papua New Guinea

HUNDREDS are feared dead after a major landslide buried families alive in their sleep in Papua New Guinea.

Dozens of homes were also flattened as the disaster swept over the village of Kaokalam, some 370 miles northwest of capital Port Moresby.

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Rescuers are now in a race against time to find survivors in the wake of the catastrrophe that struck at around 3am local time on Friday.

Horror footage appears to show casualties being pulled from beneath the towering mounds of debris and mud.

More than 100 people have reportedly died, according to Australian media, however locals think the actual number is closer to 300.

The officials have not yet released an official estimate.

Community leader Mark Ipuia told Reuters on Saturday: "At this time, we are still searching for bodies who are buried by the massive landslide."

A rapid response team comprised of medics and military personnel has arrived at the remote landslide site, humanitarian group Care Australia said.

But the rough terrain and damage to important highways make rescue efforts difficult, it noted, with highway access restricted and the area only accessible by helicopter.

"While the area is not densely populated, our concern is that the death toll could be disproportionately high," Care Australia said in a statement.

Kaokalam resident Ninga Role was away when the landslide struck and sadly lost his brother and cousin to the tragedy.

He told Sky News: "It's very impossible, the area covered by the landslide is large and there are rocks and trees everywhere.

"It's very difficult to get them out."

Businesswoman Elizabeth Laruma, from a nearby town in the same province of Enga, said homes were flattened when the mountainside gave way.

She told Australia's ABC news channel: "It has occurred when people were still asleep in the early hours, and the entire village has gone down.

"From what I can presume, it's about 100-plus people who are buried beneath the ground."

Papua New Guinea is a developing nation populated mainly by subsistence farmers with 800 languages spoken.

Approximately 85% of its 10million people live in rural areas.

There are few highways outside of major cities, and telecommunications are weak.