A landslide has hit a rural area in central Papua New Guinea, killing at least 40 people.

Local news reports early Wednesday said that 40 bodies have been recovered but that another 20 people are still missing.

Local emergency officials say the situation is still too fluid to confirm the numbers.

The accident occurred on the island state's Southern Highlands. Some reports say two villages were hit Tuesday.

Papua New Guinea shares the island of New Guinea with Indonesia.