Student dies in treefall

By JIMMY KALEBE
A PRIMARY school student died when a tree crashed on the family home in Lae during strong wind and heavy rain on Monday night.
The other five members of the family managed to run out of the house during the incident at around 9.30pm.
He was 18 and in grade 8 at Omili Primary School in Lae. The family asked that his name be not revealed. His parents are from East Sepik and Morobe.
His elder brother, Ivan Samgai, said it was around 9.30pm when they heard a loud bang on the roof of their house at Kamkumung village.
“The tree fell onto our house while all of us were inside. My brother was killed instantly after he was hit by a piece of timber with the weight of the tree behind it,” Samgai said.
His two sisters were also hurt.
The extreme weather conditions experienced in most parts of Lae city damaged homes,
roads, power poles and other properties.
Samgai said they not only lost his brother but also the family home and some of their belongings.
They are living with relatives at Kamkumung village.
Morobe provincial disaster coordinator Charlie Masange said a number of homes outside the city were damaged.
“Lae district disaster officials are conducting assessments and providing immediate relief,” he said.
A strong wind warning has been issued by National Weather Service for provinces in the Vitiaz Strait, Solomon Sea and Coral Sea.
“The North West monsoon winds are peaking now and surges are coming through and we are expecting storm force winds to hit Vitiaz Strait, Solomon and Coral Seas by this week’s end,” said assistant director Jimmy Gomoga.