Flood warning as rain continues

PEOPLE in Finschhafen and Sialum in the Tewai-Siassi district of Morobe are being warned to take precautions when crossing bridges and rivers as flooding can occur at any time following heavy rain.
Continuous rain over the last two weeks may have weakened structures, the Finschhafen administration said.
Notices have been placed on several bridges along roads in the district to warn people trying to cross.
Finschhafen district chief executive officer Glen Kiso yesterday said Works and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Engineering Battalion from Igam Barracks in Lae were in the district to fix infrastructure.
“Mape River has swollen and the Mape Bridge is badly affected while other bridges along the Finschhafen-Sialum highway and other roads in the district are affected,” Kiso said.
He said the district was lucky to have PNGDF and Works as they were able to address situations quickly.
PNGDF is heading the restoration exercise and the team will be assessing the Mape to Pindiu road and other access roads in the district.
Kiso said food gardens were affected.
“We are lucky that the district is well prepared for any health or infrastructure risks that we may face after the heavy rain periods,” he said.
He extended the warning to people travelling by sea to monitor closely weather news given by the National Weather Services.
He announced that he would be visiting the Burum Kuat local level government area today to assess the situation there.