Locals flee after village destroyed

By ELIAS LARI
HUNDREDS of people from Baiyer in Western Highlands have abandoned their villages and fled to safety following a huge landslide which buried food gardens, houses, land and domestic animals in the area, a ward councillor says.
No lives were lost but a young man received injuries when he tried to escape being buried alive on Monday.
Antinga ward councillor James Tem said people were living in fear as heavy rain continued in the area.
“The landslide started at around 5am last Monday and continued until around midday Friday, destroying everything on its way including cash crops such as coffee, betel nuts fish ponds, piggery and other crops,” he said.
“Water sources locals used were also buried in mud and debris.”
The Unkini Primary and Elementary schools and the community health post at Antinga village were closed since Monday as the water supply system was covered by the landslide.
People affected are from Antinga village and the neighbouring Kombau village in Mul-Baiyer.
According to the villagers, it was their first time to experience such a devastating and scary landslide.
Tem said his people from the Ukuni-Oiamb clan were badly affected.
He said the same landslide destroyed the neighbouring Ukuni-Kepka-Pintbu clan from ward 40.
“We heard a large noise coming towards us and people were very lucky to escape,” he said.
“They were asleep.
“We could have been buried alive but through the grace of God, we escaped death in the early hours of Monday morning.”
Tem said schools and community health post would be closed because water supply was cut.
“In the meantime, we are calling for support from the Government through the disaster offices, the provincial government and the office of the local MP Koi Trappe to help,” he said.
Tem said heavy rain was continuing and people were living in fear.
Deputy chief executive officer of the Mul–Baiyer development authority (DDA) Robert Rumba visited the scene on Saturday and confirmed the damage.
Rumba said he sent officers to assess the entire damages.
“Mul-Baiyer has been experiencing so many natural disasters such as landslide and floods which claimed so many lives,” he said.