Wenge urges people living along river bank to move inland

NAWAEB MP Kennedy Wenge is calling on people in the Buko, Gobari, Situm and other villages located near the Bupu (Situm) River to move inland during rainy weather to avoid losing their properties and belongings.
Wenge’s call came after he assessed a landslide at Tusulu village in ward 13 of the Nabak local level government area last week.
The landslide at Weng area damaged food gardens of at least 10 families and destroyed a section of the Hobuc to Tusulu road at Weng River.
“The landslide has removed a lot of clay and soil which made the area unstable,” he said.
“The Tusulu to Hobuc Road is inaccessible because of the landslide.
“My fear is that the rivers will carry all this soil and mud downstream, and this will affect a lot of people who are living near the Bupu River.
“People should be on alert when there is flooding as debris will be carried down.”
Wenge instructed the provincial Works to do an assessment of the damage to the road, and an engineer was available for that on Wednesday. Community leader of the Kasampol area in Tusulu village Sonny Elenu explained that the landslide occurred where three rivers joined.
“There are two small rivers which join the Bupu River before it flows to the Situm area,” he said.
“During the rainy season, the rivers are fast-flowing and can carry rocks and soil.
“People down the river should be alert at all times.
“Right now water supply to Nawaeb High School is also cut off because of the landslide and blockage.
“The landslide has also affected schools and health services, where most students and health workers were blocked off and didn’t go to school or work.”