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PORT MORESBY, Thursday (AFP) Dozens of villagers are feared to have perished in a landslide that buried a series of hamlets in a remote part of Papua New Guinea, local media reported Thursday.

The Post-Courier newspaper said 28 villagers remain missing. Eight bodies were pulled from the debris after Monday night's mudslide in the Wantoat area of Morobe province, 200 kilometres (120 miles) north of Port Moresby.

Listed among the missing was the entire family of village official Mataeo Kubab, who was away on business when a mountain cliff face is believed to have collapsed after heavy rains.

Provincial officials who visited the area confirmed the bodies of eight people, including two toddlers, their mother and five men, had been recovered.

The newspaper said the eight victims were buried late Wednesday as the search for survivors continued.

A head count of three hamlets worst hit by the landslide revealed 28 people remained missing.

"We were all asleep at the time the disaster struck, and just thank God that the landslide did not reach our house," one villager said.

The landslide occurred when the side of a mountain collapsed into a river below, burying the villages of Bangusae and Napna, villagers said.

Morobe province governor Luther Wenge and disaster officials arrived at the disaster area to be confronted by scenes of devastation.

Wenge told villagers the provincial governmenT tEsld provide emergency assistance and request help from the National Disaster and Emergency Services.

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