Melbourne (Australia): A landslide early Friday morning killed at least 21 people in Papua New Guinea's highlands, Australian media reported.

The landslide around 2 am flattened houses as people slept in the village of Kukas in Enga province, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported, citing police.

Enga Gov Peter Ipatas told ABC locals reported up to 30 people had died, with 18 bodies already recovered. Police maintain the death toll was 21.

Mate Bagossy, UN humanitarian adviser for Papua New Guinea, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The United Nations conservatively estimated 670 villagers were killed in a landslide in Enga in May last year, while the Papua New Guinea government said more than 2,000 people had been buried.

AP