A complete disaster! VIDEO

"The landslide buried more than 2,000 people, caused extensive destruction of buildings and caused major impacts on the country's economy," stated the letter sent by the Center to the United Nations.

More than 150 houses were buried in the landslide, and around 1,250 people were evacuated.

The International Organization for Migration previously said more than 670 people were believed to have died in the landslide.

To date, only five bodies have been found, while a man and a woman were pulled alive after rescuers heard them calling out from under the rubble.

The BBC reports that people were buried at a depth of ten meters in some places. The landslide blocked access to the highway, which is why the area can only be reached by helicopter.

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, said that members of the emergency services, the military and communal services are participating in the search for survivors and providing assistance.