Gera landslide still a threat, says geologist
By HARLYNE JOKU
THE Gera landslide is still active and a potential threat with the debris of mud and water moving at a kilometer very one and a half hour, geologist Gabriel Kuna who is assisting the National Disaster Office assessment team said yesterday.
Mr Kuna said the moving debris and mudflow may continue to move downward for at least six months unless water mixed in the mud is sucked out or dries up.
He said his assessment team found frequent changes to the flow direction of water seepages on the landslide which indicates localised movements of segments of the landslide material.
He said there were frequent changes in the general morphology of the landslide materials with slopes getting steeper in some sections while depressions are getting shallow and vice versa.
“There is tilting of buildings, e.g., extensive damage caused to the Lutheran Church building.
“A large section of the coffee garden at the toe of the landslide below the PNG
Bible Church building collapsed in the stream channel.
“A number of coffee trees were still intact on April 19 were found lying in the creek bed on April 23. Fresh open cracks were observed in the coffee garden and below the slope.
“Large fresh cracks developed at the ELC Circuit Centre and grounds where cracks are appearing in some sections of the landslide which were not observed earlier, especially at the tow below the damaged highway route.
“There is closing and widening of cracks of segments of the landslide materials,” Mr Kuna said.
He recommended that the rate of land movement need to be monitored.
Mr Kuna said the advantages of monitoring the rate of movement are to decide on the feasibility of installing the temporary emergency fuel pipeline through the landslide and to identify areas that are likely to be affected in advance especially at the toe of the landslide.
Mr Kuna also recommended a bypass to be built for PNG Power poles and transmission lines.
He said the landslide destroyed PNG Power lines forcing 500-plus consumers to go without power indefinitely.
Mr Kuna said the bypass route to reopen the Simbu section of the Okuk Highway should be at least 4.5km from the landslide.
Nation Stories