More than 200 people affected as storm destroys homes

MORE than 200 people at Kald village in Baiyer district, Western Highlands, were affected by a freak storm on Sunday afternoon which uprooted trees and destroyed homes.
Villager Peter Paraka, from the Hukuni tribe, told The National the Teki River burst its banks and damaged properties.
He said the storm lasted for about an hour.
“It was something unusual. We never experience such strong winds with rain before,” he said.
Paraka said coffee gardens were destroyed by fallen trees.
“Many of us parents are waiting for the coffee season to pay up outstanding fees for our kids attending colleges and universities. Our heads are paining,” he said.
He said 14 houses were damaged leaving families homeless.
Pigs belonging to grandmother Sapina Pald, Pora Pund and Julien Palimb were washed away by the floodwaters.
Most of the damage happened in the Oembo council ward.
“We need assistance from the district and provincial disaster office to rebuild our lives,” he said.