Flood alert

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
PEOPLE of Western living along the border with Southern Highlands and Hela have been alerted of another natural disaster – flooding.
North Fly Police Commander Superintendent Joseph Puri said four people were reportedly washed away by the Ok Tedi River on Wednesday night.
“Also the bridge outside Tabubil was washed away by flooding on Wednesday night. The road between Tabubil and Kiunga has been cut off again,” he said.
Puri said people in the North Fly District had been on the alert for aftershocks and were now facing the threat of flooding.
“This road has huge cracks from the earthquake. And while maintenance is being carried out, the flood came in and washed away the bridge,” he said.
Puri said he had issued flood warnings to people living along the OK Tedi, OK Menga and Fly Rivers.
“I had earlier issued earthquake warnings when the earthquake hit us last month,” he said.
“But now I’m issuing another warning on the floods after four people were reported to have been washed away by the Ok Tedi River.
“I have warned people not to live near these rivers as flooding will occur at any time. They must move to higher grounds. We are now experiencing heavy rain.
“Earlier on I had issued a warning to people not to live close to mountains. Now I’m warning people not to stay near the rivers but live in higher grounds.”
Meanwhile, Kiunga Mayor Wilfred Whan said a mother with her 10-year-old son have been swept away when floods swept through their house at about 9.30pm at Finadim village while they were sleeping.
“Also another mother and her daughter were swept away into the river at 6-Mile in Tabubil. There are no vehicles traveling between Kiunga and Tabubil now.”
National Disaster Coordination Center director Martin Mose said they were waiting for a report from the Fly River Provincial Disaster Office.