Earthquake damages 7-storey dorm, students displaced

By ZACHERY PER
MORE than 150 boarding students at the University of Goroka (UOG) have been displaced after their dormitory was damaged by Sunday’s 7.6 magnitude earthquake.
Chancellor Joe Wemin and vice-chancellor Dr Teng Waninga confirmed the displacement of the students, who were placed in temporary shelters in classrooms while many sought refuge in nearby Okiyufa, Asariufa and North Goroka villages.
Waninga said five students including one who was pregnant had sustained injuries during the quake and were taken to Goroka Hospital for treatment.
Waniniga said the displaced students were in desperate need of accommodation.
He said while there had been no serious casualties students had been barred from entering the damaged seven-storey building for safety reasons with most of the damage on the sixth floor.
Waniniga said the university council would bring in structural engineers to assess the damage to the building which housed 2,000-plus students and a decision would be made on repairs or rebuilding the structure.
Wemin said the university council in consultation with academic senate had decided to immediately suspend classes for two weeks to allow students to find alternative accommodation.
He assured students in a gathering at the campus yesterday that the academic year would continue as planned.
“Any students who were traumatised by the earthquake can seek counselling from the university student services,” he said.
Wemin and Waninga thanked Eastern Highlands governor Simon Sia who was the first leader to visit the institution following the disaster.
Governor Sia led a team to the university to see the extent of the damage and asked the management of recommendations to assist.