Floods triggered by quake destroy food gardens, bridge

FLOODS caused by a 5.3 magnitude earthquake on Saturday have ravaged Northern, destroying food gardens and a bridge along the Kokoda Highway.
Flights into the province were cancelled for a day and villagers were warned to stay indoors.
Provincial administrator Trevor Magei confirmed that the quake’s epic centre was at Ubo, Safia local level government at the Northern-Central border.
He said the earthquake measuring 5.3 magnitude on the richter scale was confirmed by the Rabaul Volcano Observatory, GEO Observatory Hawaii, National Disaster Centre and the Oro disaster
centre.
“As of (last) Sunday, the situation was back to normal but the provincial disaster committee will continue to gather information and advise the public during the week,” he said. Ubo is about 12km south of Popondetta in Ijivitari.
Magei said the earthquake caused a heavy downpour, preventing people from crossing rivers and bridges.
“The Kaire bridge approach towards the Kokoda end has been washed away by strong currents from heavy flooding blocking off the Armco and the highway,” he said. “People travelling to and from Kokoda have been blocked on either side, causing delays in traffic.”
Magei said the provincial disaster team had been deployed to the affected areas and a detailed report would be released soon.
Governor Gary Juffa warned villagers to stay indoors and wait until the flood waters subside.
“We are not sure if any lives or houses and properties have been destroyed or lost,” he said.