New Guinea Islands impacted by king tides

NEW Guinea Islands provinces, particularly East New Britain (ENB), Manus and New Ireland, have reported being impacted by king tides.
According to Ocean Services, a king tide is a term often used to describe exceptionally high tides.
Tides are long-period waves that roll around the planet as the ocean is “pulled” back and forth by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun as these bodies interact with the earth in their monthly and yearly orbits.
Higher than normal tides typically occur during a new or full moon and when the moon is at its perigee (nearest to earth), or during specific seasons around the country.
A village woman Susan Nyohang, from Sori Island in the North Coast area of Manus, said the whole province had been affected by the king tide and it was the first time to have happened in a long while.
Nyohang said on Thursday that coastal and island communities in Manus were facing food security issues, as food and water had been contaminated by sea water.
She said coastal communities and islanders in Manus needed relief and strategies to manage through the situation.
Nyohang said the rise in sea level had destroyed homes mainly that had been built on ground level, while those of high covenant post houses were safe.
She said some homes had also been destroyed by the high tides.
The community had asked the provincial government to carry out a critical risk assessment to present to the national government to act on.
Reuben Pokanau of the CS Media said coastal communities were severely affected. He said authorities were assessing the situation.