Until death do us part

The National Main Stories
People recovering the baby from the landslide. – Facebookpic
The site of the landslide that killed the family of three in the Aling settlement in Kimbe Town, West New Britain. – Picture Courtesy of WNB Police

By LULU MARK
A MAN, his wife and their two-year-old baby girl were found buried alive – huddled in an embrace – in a landslide in Kimbe town’s Aling settlement yesterday morning.
The landslide, trigged by hours of continuous heavy rain in West New Britain (WNB) and an earthquake, buried the house of the family of three between 1am and 2am.
Rescuers dug through the earth and rubble later in the morning to find the tragic victims huddled in an embrace – the man with his arms around his wife who held on to her daughter as if to protect her.

Daniel Yangen

Acting commander Sr Insp Daniel Yangen said police had identified the dead as Moses Kela, wife Mary Ipiri Moses and daughter Melissa Moses.
Kela was from Tambul Nebilyer’s Kumbaga village in Western Highlands and his wife was from Ialibu’s Pare village in Southern Highlands.
He said according to police and disaster office reports, the landslide occurred in the early hours of the morning.
“It had been raining since last year,” he said. “The landslide was reported to have been caused by an earthquake between 1am or 2am during a heavy downpour.”
Snr Insp Yangen said relatives, friends and villagers helped dig through the muddy soil and debris to try and save the victims but they were already dead when found,” he said, adding that floods had also hit food gardens, damaged roads and bridges.
“It is unsafe for dinghies and small boats in the seas around WNB. There were two fatal car accidents and two serious traffic accidents in the past 24 hours.”

The haus krai (mourning house) of the family of three that died in the landslide at Aling settlement in Kimbe. – Picture Courtesy of WNB Police

He said two of the cases involved drink-driving and the other two were caused by the rain and wet roads.
Sr Insp Yangen advised the public and road users to take extra precautions and observe more caution when on the roads.
“We urge drivers to put on their lights, double beams and use horns to avoid traffic accidents.” he said.

21 comments

  • Very sad indeed to lose a family in such a tragic circumstance. My heart and sincere condolences goes to the extended family members and relatives of this late family.

  • I really felt for this family the way they lost their lives. Condolence message goes to the immediate family.

  • May their soul rest in eternal peach. Really heart breaking. My condolences to their relatives and friends. I have never be torn that much because I have a family like that and feel for how tragic nature took their fate. R.I.P.

  • Bel pain ya reading and seeing the pictures reminds me of my own small family…My their family find peace at this time…

  • What a heart wrenching story…my heart aches just at the sight of pics of all three lying dead. It only makes me think of my own family. My heartfelt condolences goes out to the immediate relatives. My they find comfort & solace in God alone.

  • Im really torn up here by looking at the picture…Really heart breaking news…Family, the title “Untill Death Do Us Apart” says it all. rest easy in peace.

  • Very sad and heartbreaking !! , our reslonsible governments must be proactive saving or minimizing loss of precious and innocent via establishment of early warning systems for landslides volcanic activities, tsunami, drought and frost, and earthquakes. With prior survey and information, such people could have been advised to vacate their homes and communities during prolonged periods of rainfall. My sincere condolences to and prayers for their immediate family members.

  • So.. So imotional, my hear breaks, guys let’s give the full care and love Ower family deserve… May this family find peace.. Rip.

  • What a really sad scene. Our condolences to the extended family during this time of their grief for losing such a young and wonderful family.

  • It is heart breaking when seeing the image and reading the article. The family died with the gesture of protection and love. Truly heart touching, condolences to the immediate family members. R.I.P

  • The picture says it all…true love from the beginning till the end. The love that God has created between husband and wife (and baby) no man can break not even natural disaster. My heart felt condolence to the family.

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