More than 4,000 people were affected by the landslide in Papua New Guinea

More than 4,000 people were likely impacted by a massive landslide that hit a village in northern Papua New Guinea on Friday, aid group CARE Australia said.

Authorities in the country, which is in Oceania, believe that hundreds of people may have died in the tragedy. Earth and mud covered houses in the village of Kaokalam in Enga province, about 600 kilometers from the capital Port Moresby, at around 3am, when people were sleeping.

In another landslide, more than 300 people may have died when earth covered about 1,100 homes in six villages in the Mulitaka region, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

CARE Australia said late Saturday that almost 4,000 people lived in the impact zone, with the total number of people affected likely higher as the area was “a place of refuge for those displaced by conflict” in areas nearby.

In February, at least 26 men were killed in Enga province in an ambush amid tribal violence that prompted Prime Minister James Marape to give arrest powers to the country's military.

The Australian organization also said that Friday's landslide (24) left debris up to eight meters high across 200 square kilometers, cutting off access to the road, which has hampered relief efforts.

Helicopters were the only way to reach the area, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp, which reported four bodies were recovered from the rubble on Saturday.

“More homes could be at risk if land continues to move down the mountain,” a CARE spokesperson said in a statement.

The Prime Minister said specialist disaster officials, the Defense Force and the Department of Works and Highways are working on relief and recovery efforts.