At least 20 dead likely in violence near gold mine in Papua New Guinea, local Reuters reports

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Violent attacks near Barrick Gold’s (NYSE: ) Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have killed at least 20 people and forced women and children to flee the region, local media reported .

Papua New Guinea has given police emergency powers, including the use of lethal force, to stop violence in Porgera between illegal settlers squatting near the gold mine and local landowners, the Post-Courier and The National newspapers reported on Sunday evening.

Barrick Gold and PNG police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Several schools, hospitals, banks and other government services in the regions were closed due to the violence, the Post-Curier said in a report.

Home to hundreds of tribes and languages, the northern Pacific nation of Australia has a long history of tribal warfare. However, violence has increased in the past decade as villagers have swapped bows and arrows for military rifles and elections have deepened existing tribal divisions.

Violent attacks on three remote villages since July in the north of the country have killed 26 people, including 16 children, according to the United Nations.