Flooding due to high rainfall in Poroma Valley as well as photos of some of the work we doing in Nipa-Kutubu. 7 December 2024 Photo: Facebook / Billy William M. Joseph
Villagers in a Papua New Guinea Southern Highlands district affected by continuous heavy rain and flooding have been advised to assess the damage and report it to the provincial disaster office.
The Post-Courier reports that more than 700 people from Det village in Nipa-Kutubu District have had their food gardens washed away due to the flooding.
The news outlet reports that PNG Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph, who is also the member for the district, flew over the affected areas and took pictures of the destruction.
A villager Kenneth Richard told the newspaper that the continuous heavy rain caused the Naru River to burst its banks, washing away food gardens, livestock, and houses, and leaving locals "hungry in the last few days".
According to the newspaper, heavy rainfall in the area has also caused landslides and cut off a section of the Highlands Highway at Kopa village.
It said the landslide forced traffic between Nipa and Hela to come to a standstill on Monday.
The locals have cleared the road and traffic has resumed smoothly, the Post-Courier added.