Children and pregnant women are among those killed in a tribal massacre that took place in the mountainous area of Papua New Guinea.
"BBC"At least 24 people have been confirmed dead after brutal violence erupted between rival tribes for several days in Hela province. Some reports say the death toll is even higher than 24."
Prime Minister James Marape reacted after the incident by saying that "This is one of the saddest days of my life"He promised that the perpetrators of the massacre would be found.
This is one of the worst outbreaks of inter-tribal violence in Papua New Guinea for years.
The motive for the killings is still unknown. However, similar clashes between several clans have occurred in the region for more than 20 years.
How did the murders happen?
On Sunday, seven people – including four men and three women – were killed in the village of Munima. Then on Monday, 16 women and children were killed in the village of Karida, EMTV said. Two of the women were pregnant.
The Hela Health Department has published several photos on Facebook from the massacre in the village of Karida.
The photos show a row of bodies wrapped in clothes and tied up. The department official said some of them were dismembered and their body parts were difficult to distinguish.
Prime Minister Marape, who is from this area, said the killings were carried out by armed men from the Hagui, Okiru and Liwi tribes and vowed to seek the punishment of those responsible.
The highland provinces of Papua New Guinea are very remote. Communities are still based on tribal traditions and many small villages have never had road connections.
Tribal clashes are not uncommon, often sparked by rape, theft, or disputes over tribal boundaries.
In recent years, the influx of automatic weapons has made clashes more deadly.
