Moro airstrip only way in to Hela

By Malum Nalu in Mt Hagen
THE only access to Hela and Southern Highlands now is through Moro airstrip in Southern Highlands, says disaster coordinator Major Ezron Dekaetavara.
He said this yesterday in Mt Hagen when giving an update of the situation in both provinces.
“Komo is out. The runaway there is unserviceable,” he said.
“The only one (airstrip) in the area that is able to cater for fixed-wing (aircraft) is Moro. What Exxon is doing is flying its employees out of Komo by helicopter to Moro where they are taken out by aircraft.
“That’s what happening now.”
Dekaetavara said Tari was open until yesterday morning.
“We confirmed with an OTML (Ok Tedi Mining Ltd) pilot that they flew in two sorties (on Monday),” he said.
“We just need to get confirmation from National Airports Corporation to allow us to land fixed-wing aircraft there. Rotor is all right and you can still get helicopters into there.”
Dekaetavara said they could not give a figure on the number of casualties or damage.
“We are trying as best as we can to establish that,” he said.
“At the moment, we are pretty much working on secondhand and thirdhand information from people who are coming through.
“We cannot give any figures or account for any damage.”