Landslide buries homes

By VICKY BAUNKE
A MAJOR landslide caused by heavy rain buried 27 houses at Lababia village in the Salamaua LLG area in Huon Gulf district, Morobe last Friday.
The downpour in the area has resulted in a landslide blocking off the nearby Tabare River and diverting a massive amount of water measuring into the Lababia Primary School and nearby communities along the Huon Coast, where the village is located.
More than 30 families are homeless.
Food gardens and buildings have also been destroyed by the floods.
The Kamiali Conversation Centre, which was a tourist attraction in the area, has also been destroyed.
At Lababia Primary School only a few classrooms remain standing.
Ward seven councillor Sam Wena The National that the situation was getting worse as sections of the mountain facing the village were continuing to slip due to heavy rain.
Wena said the people in the village were relocated to the main village for safety while they awaited relief supplies to be delivered.
“We are thankful to God that no lives were lost during the disaster apart from our food gardens, houses and other properties that were destroyed,” he said.
“I am concerned about the lives of displaced people. We need immediate attention,” Wena said.
“The main supply of water to our village has been destroyed and contaminated and we have no access to clean water.”
Salamaua rural development officer Stanely Sakai said an assessment was underway and would be completed by the end of the week and submitted to the disaster office for relief supplies to be given.
Sakai said awareness was being also being carried out to inform the affected communities.