By Rachael Shisei – EM TV News, Madang
The umbrellas are out again for the first time today, as rain continues to fall throughout Madang Province. It has rained heavily for two weeks, but only during the night, with today being the first dose of wet weather to strike during daylight hours.
“I’m standing in the rain and speaking because I’m so happy I want to feel it. It’s been weeks and months without this feeling on my skin,” said Cathy Silih, a Madang resident and employee of Telikom PNG.
Timothy Waranduo is another resident who said he is very happy to go to work today, as it is the first time it rained during the day.
The plants that have withered and died are dancing once again, the grass that lost colour is as green as ever, and the rivers that have gone dry during the seven-month long drought are not only alive once again after this second week of rain, they’re flooding.
“We’ve been looking for water and digging the ground and sand, and now that its raining and even flooding, we still welcome the rains,” said Peter Waithem, a Mawan villager.
Surely the rains are back, the dust is gone, the green is back, but what happens if the rains continue at this pace?
This may be the beginning of another disaster, which is flooding. The Provincial Disaster Office is therefore now appealing to everyone to be mindful at this time, and do what’s necessary if the heavy rain persists.
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