Markham River bursts banks putting motorist, community at risk

MARKHAM River has threatened the Markham Bridge that connects Bulolo and Menyamya when its banks started swelling since Aug 6, according to Morobe police commander Superintendent Alex N’Drasal.
He urged people residing along its banks to go to safer places as rain continues.
“The flood waters are still rising and people residing close to the river banks has to take precautions as more rains are expected,” he said.
Creeks leading to the main roads are also flooding causing major damages to portions of roads along the Highlands and Lae-Bulolo Highways as motorists were denied access.
N’Drasal said motorists travelling along Highlands Highway at Yalu village in Wampar LLG, Huon Gulf have to take care as portion of road there has been badly damaged.
He said along the Bulolo Hgihway at Mumeng, the portion of road was badly affected and only four-wheel-drives could access the road while other vehicles were stranded.
Kumalu River has risen to its heights and companies were assisted by police on the ground to have their machineries assist vehicles travelling to Bulolo or Lae.
N’Drasal said at Situm in Nawaeb, a landslip on Aug 7 had blocked the road.
He said police were monitoring the situation to stop people from creating access roads and collect fees from motorists.
“People are advised to go home early from town or wherever they may be going as such situation pose advantages for criminal elements to engage in armed hold ups,” he said.
He added that other districts in the province were yet to report their situation in relation to the heavy rain the province experienced the past two weeks.