Flooded river isolates Bialla

By PILA WASU
MORE than 145,000 people and several business houses, including the Hargy Oil Palm Company in Bialla district, West New Britain, have been cut off from services after Tiaru River burst its banks.
The ravaging flood waters washed away one of three bridges across the river.
Continuous rain in the past few days have also caused the Koasa River to swell, leaving many people stranded.
People bound for Navo, Ulamona and Noau sought shelter with friends in the oil palm blocks at Barema and Soi while others remained on the roadside.
Some locals put up a temporary bridge over the Tiaru River last night but it was quickly washed away as rain continued to drench the area.
Hargy Oil Palm general manager David Mather ordered his construction engineers to build a temporary bridge.
Yesterday morning, workers were busy operating excavators and other heavy machinery to clear a site while a steady stream of trucks brought up gravel.
Several hours later, the temporary bridge was opened to light traffic but work at the site continued.
A passenger said light vehicles were crossing the temporary bridge while big trucks were advised to travel with caution.
Works officers in Bialla could not be reached for comments as they were at the site.
The Koasa Bailey Bridge was washed away in 2003 and had not been replaced since.
It is shallow enough for vehicles in normal times.