Six-year-old dies in flooded river

 By PISAI GUMAR

A TODDLER died after a vehicle, with 18 passengers on board, overturned while trying to cross a flooded river, in Mumeng, Morobe, police say.

The six-year-old was travelling in the vehicle with the 18 passengers from Menyamya district. They were trying to cross the swollen Kumalu River at around 7.26 pm on Saturday.

The 18 included 13 men, a pregnant woman and four children. They were returning home.

A police officer in Mumeng said the driver tried to cross the river when the current was strong.

He said the vehicle got stuck in the middle of the crossing and was slowly dragged downstream before it overturned.

The passengers managed to swim to the banks of the river. One of the passengers later said the vehicle was almost buried under the sand.

Police said five passengers who reached safety rushed to the Mumeng police station to report the incident. The search began immediately for the others.

Gunau, a local from Gamox village said people from Bangulum and Gamox assisted police and health workers in the search and provide security until all the passengers were safe. The toddler’s body was found yesterday morning.

Most of the passengers sustained minor body injuries and bruises on faces. 

Six of the passengers were from Sikong in Wapi and 12 from Kome.

Bulolo administrator Tae Gwambelek alerted the Morobe Disaster Coordinator Charlie Masangkie who arrived at the site with his team.

Menyamya district administrator Miseck Wowongo, Wapi president Isaac Aaron and Angau School of Nursing principal Manasseh Moya also came to help.