Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds on Monday afternoon have caused massive damage to parts of Anglimp/ South Waghi district, Western Highlands province.
Some areas badly affected include Kugak, Milzip, Avi and Kuli Gap.
In the Minj area, the Kugak Evangelical Brotherhood church’s (EBC) station and Mulzip village were badly affected.
The strong winds uprooted trees, bananas, pawpaw trees, and badly damaged other food crops affecting about 100 people.
Isaac Nombril, an elementary teacher from Kugak village, told The National yesterday morning at Kugak village that strong winds accompanied by rains started between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
He said the wind blew down four bush material houses occupied by more than 30 families.
He said one of the permanent houses had its entire iron roofing blown off.
He said the new EBC’s permanent prayer houses constructed recently with contributions from its members was completely destroyed.
Mr Nombril said many coffee trees in the two villages were also destroyed.
He said no one was injured even though a bush material house in which a father of 10 was sleeping collapsed. He managed to escape unhurt.
Mr Nombril said about 30 people were homeless and were now residing with their neighbours.
On the same afternoon, two creeks at Avi Block, also in the southern Anglimp district, flooded its banks and destroyed two houses and food gardens in the valley.
According to a villager from the Avi market, Desmon Wai, the two houses were swamped with mud, covering all the occupants’ personal belongings.
Mr Wai said three live pigs were also washed away by the flood.
Some villagers living near Kuli Gap also reported yesterday afternoon that strong winds accompanied by rains uprooted trees and damaged coffee trees, food gardens and destroying two houses.
No one was injured.