NAC clears Tari airstrip for flights after crack fixed

THE airstrip in Tari has been cleared by the National Airports Corporation for aircraft to land there, says Hela Governor Philip Undialu.
Undialu, pictured, told The National that NAC staff had given the green lights for the airstrip to reopen after a crack, caused by Monday’s earthquake, forced it to close.
He said Curtain Brothers had been working round the clock to patch up the crack and make it safe again for aircraft to land there.
Link PNG and the PNG Air Dash-8 operate flights there from Port Moresby.
“Tari Airport is ready to be reopened now,” he said. “We have complied with all requirements set by NAC engineers.”
Undialu said Curtain Brothers and local contractors were also working hard to patch up the large cracks in roads in and around Tari caused by the earthquake.
He said gensets were being used until electricity supply was restored to Tari by PNG Power.
This followed the collapse of power poles and lines during the earthquake. Undialu said the need now was for a reliable supply of fuel because roads in the Nipa area of Southern Highlands have been damaged by landslides.
“We might soon run out of fuel in Tari,” he said. Undialu said Tari Hospital was now operating 24/7 to treat the injured and sick.