Costal people warned of flooding and strong winds

By MICHAEL LAI and REBECCA KUKU
National Weather Service (NWS) has warned people along the coast of flooding and strong winds starting today.
Director Samuel Maiha has strongly urged seafarers to heed the warning.
Maiha has also warned people in the Highlands, saying they should be wary of the increased risk of flooding and landslides.
NWS has warned of gale force and strong winds in Gulf, Milne Bay, West New Britain, West and East Sepik, National Capital District and Central.
Maiha said the country would continue to experience heavy rain accompanied by strong winds of 40 to 64 knots.
“Strong northwest winds of 25 to 34 knots are expected to continue,” he said.
Heavy rain in Port Moresby over the weekend caused flooding around the city.
Maiha said the whole country was receiving a lot more rain than expected.
“This will continue for the next two weeks from mid-March to the first week of April,” he said.
“It is accompanied by strong winds.
“People along the coastal areas are warned of high seas.
“People in the Highlands should be mindful of landslides.”
Recently he had called on the aviation industry to put in place weather-related risk management strategies as the country entered a
period of heavy rain and strong winds.
“The public must continue to obey the warnings, and not be unnecessarily losing their lives through ignorance of weather warnings,” Maiha said.