Flood destroys houses, food gardens

 By ANGELINE KARIUS 

More than 500 people have been displaced and food gardens destroyed at Laloki, outside Port Moresby, due to heavy rains experienced recently in the nation’s capital city. 

According to locals in the area, heavy downpour in the late hours of Tuesday continued until early Wednesday morning. 

Women and children have been reportedly taken at first light immediately into the city by relatives. 

A mother from the area said around midnight, water began seeping into their homes. 

She said everyone evacuated to higher ground with their children in tow. 

“We were scared for our lives. 

“All our food gardens have been destroyed in the flood,” she said. 

She added that the entire highway was flooded that vehicles could not even pass until 10am yesterday. 

“Only our immediate families have come to assist us to evacuate to safer grounds,” she added. 

NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop advised the families to immediately evacuate the area. 

He said with the weather pattern experienced recently, it might cause other problems if they remained.