People move to higher grounds as flood fears rise

By Rebecca Kuku
PEOPLE in Kikori district, Gulf, living near rivers have been moved to higher grounds because of flood fears.
Governor Chris Haiveta said a disaster relief team was conducting awareness and moving people to safe locations.
Some rivers in Hela and Southern Highlands flowing into Gulf had been blocked by debris and landslides and had formed “dams” which would break soon.
They therefore pose a big risk to people living downstream in the Kikori district.
“Due to the earthquake, there are some parts of the river upstream blocked by debris and so there is high flooding risk if the dams burst,” he said. “The Kikori River in Gulf is part of the Tagali River from Southern Highlands. And the Purari River is part of the Yalo and Mendi River.
“So we are starting to move our people living near the rivers to high ground (in anticipation).”
Haiveta said the province’s main river was also contaminated with dead fish and eels creating a stench.
The 7.5 earthquake and its aftershocks had been felt as far as the Malaloua district in Gulf, with reports of many homes and gardens being destroyed in Kikori. The districts lies south west of the 7.5 magnitude earthquake epicentre.