Floods ruin properties, about 500 homeless

CONTINUOUS heavy rain in the northern hinterland of Goroka town in Kaveve and Samogoni forests triggered heavy flooding which destroyed homes and left about 500 people homeless.
The floods destroyed 23 houses (nine permanent and 14 made of bush material) at Nupaha village north of Goroka town.
“We lost everything from household items to valuables, televisions, laptop computers, tools and education documents – certificates and degrees,” former councillor Kim Toto said of the flood caused by the Zokozoi River.
Toto said a creek that flowed between homes in the village burst its banks and caused a lot of damage as it carried logs, muds and stones that destroyed or buried homes, gardens and livestock.
He told The National that there was a landslide up in the mountain and forest of Kaveve and Samagoni and it blocked off the creek’s normal path.
The blockage created a pool that has swelled every day for the last three months of continuous heavy rain in the mountain and forest.
“The pool of water burst the landslide blockage open at around 4.30pm to 5.30pm on Wednesday,” Toto said.
“The impact forced the flood to come, so fast, carrying out logs, newly destroyed trees with stumps, logs, stones and mud debris.
“This is the first time in of our lives at Nupaha village to experience such flooding.
“We need help to restore our lives as we are now in trauma.”
Flood victim Jerry Kara said flood water went right into his permanent and semi-permanent buildings and destroyed his family home.
Among properties lost were his wife Naomi’s goods, deep freezer and washing machine lost in her canteen.
“I cannot put an exact value of things we lost in the canteen,” she said.
“The flood swept away all my goods.”
She said what was left after the flood was devastating.
“We have no one to turn to for help, I hope the Eastern Highlands provincial and National Disaster centre officials come to our assistance, it is a natural disaster.”
Naomi said flooding initially caused little damage but later, water came at a frightening rate, carrying roofing iron, timber, household goods and everything else in its way.
Gahuku local level government ward two councillor Raphael Oveso said he would gather district officers to conduct an assessment on the damage and compile a report to seek help from the provincial and national governments for the flood victims.