Man loses family to flood

By JACINTA COHLEE
A MAN lost his pregnant wife and three daughters when the swollen Sisike River in Southern Highlands swept away the home they were sleeping in at a nearby village.
Jonathan David was so distraught that he later wanted to jump into the swollen river to end his life, but was stopped by the villagers, according to his cousin Micah Kelly.
Kelly said the wife and daughters came to visit David at Niae village in Kagua/Erave, Southern Highlands, where he was cutting timber.
Afterwards, they were heading back home to Pawale village when the incident happened.
“The river was flooded and fearing for their safety, they sought refuge in a house,” Kelly said.
He said that in the middle of the night, the raging river swept the woman and her children while they were asleep inside the house.
Villagers have not been able to find their bodies since.
Kelly said the villagers managed to stop David from jumping into the raging river.
David and his late wife from Chimbu had decided to live at Pawale village in Southern Highlands.
Villagers said they had never seen such flooding on Sisike River.