Rain helps Western get back to normal

By ERIC PIET
CONTINUOUS downpour in the North Fly region of Western has caused the Fly River to burst its banks, enabling large cargo and copper ships to dock at Kiunga Wharf after low levels of the river caused by the dry season, a public servant says.
Kiunga District Hospital secretary Geawi Giriha told The National that the area started to receive high rainfall since Saturday.
“It is currently raining heavily here in Kiunga and further up in the Star Mountains, resulting in the Fly River bursting its banks,” Giriha said.
He said previously, when the wet weather began to set in, showers may continue for a day or two and revert to dry conditions.
But since Saturday, wild weather, with sweeping rain caused by strong winds or gusts, have caused havoc.
According to him, life in Kiunga and the mining township of Tabubil were back to normal with cargo ships bringing in goods and services needed to supply and service the North Fly region.
“Shops are now filled with processed food items and the prices have gone back to normal,” Giriha said.
“The dry weather over the past two months has also taken its toll on the Kiunga District Hospital, with some patients being denied treatment due to lack of drugs, which could not be shipped to Kiunga.
“Only on Monday, did the hospital receive some of its drugs when the provincial administration assisted by chartering a PNG Air plane to bring them from Port Moresby. The remaining drugs are to be shipped in shortly.”
Ok Tedi Mining Ltd’s business activities returned to normal with copper ships transporting copper pyrites from Kiunga port for processing overseas.
This was confirmed by Ok Tedi shipping clerk Mark Kitiman, who noted that OTML’s ships were on normal operations now.
Giriha hopes the water level in the Fly River stays that way.