Landslide, flooding claim life, properties, food gardens

THE Western Highlands Disaster Office says a landslide and floods claimed a life and destroyed properties in Hagen Central and other parts of the province on Friday.
Provincial disaster coordinator Robin Yakamb said a child from Kagua, Southern Highlands, died when landslide covered their house at Pish Pond in Mt Hagen.
Yakamb said he had also received reports of a landslide in Tambul-Nebilyer.
“The child had been with his mother at their home when a landslide covered the house,” he said.
“Neighbours, who worked quickly to dig the two out, could save only the mother.”
Yakamb said continuous rain had caused flooding and landslides across the district and cautioned people to be wary of rivers and hillsides.
He said properties like homes within the city were destroyed and people had lost cooking utensils, beddings and other valuable items in the flood.
“People residing at Warakum were also affected while those from the Moge tribe living at Kay Island also lost their food gardens and properties,” Yakamb said.
He said people would continue to face more disasters because of the wet season.
“I have been visiting the sites today (yesterday) and will continue to visit other affected areas to find out the damage to property and lives,” he said
Yakamb said the Kala and Kum rivers had swelled and broken their banks last week and flooding was causing extensive damage.
“We are still experiencing the wet season so we need to protect ourselves,” he said.