At least 53 people were killed in fighting in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea, where deadly violence between more than a dozen tribal groups has been escalating, a senior security official said.
George Kakas, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary acting superintendent, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the death toll from the incident in Enga Province was likely to rise.
“These tribesmen have been killed all over the countryside, all over the bush,” Mr. Kakas told the broadcaster.
“Police and defense forces have had to go in to do their best to quell the situation at their own risk.”Bodies were found across a field, along roads and near a river, Mr. Kakas said.
Video footage and photos shared on social media, whose authenticity could not immediately be confirmed, showed dozens of bodies piled onto the back of an open truck.
Persons:
George Kakas, Mr, Kakas
Organizations:
Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, “ Police
Locations:
Papua New Guinea, Royal Papua, Enga Province