The death toll from Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has risen to 23. Authorities today said twelve additional deaths were reported after the cyclone struck the eastern regions over the weekend. In East New Britain Province, Member of Parliament of Gazelle District Jelta Wong told a newspaper that 10 people were killed in a landslide in the remote village of Lamarain.

In Milne Bay Province, disaster coordinator Randal Ganisi confirmed two more fatalities. It comes after 11 deaths were reported earlier in the autonomous Bougainville region, including eight caused by another landslide. PNG’s National news agency yesterday reported that a state of emergency has been declared for the entire Bougainville region amid widespread destruction of infrastructure, mass displacement of communities and an escalating humanitarian crisis caused by the cyclone.