The Morobe Provincial Disaster Office has begun moving relief supplies to Lababia Island along the Morobe coast which has been affected by flooding.
Rains last week triggered a landslide and subsequent flooding which washed away more than 20 houses and contaminated water supplies.
Morobe Governor, Kelly Naru and the Director of the Disaster Center, Charlie Masange travelled to the island to assess the damages.
The Governor after seeing the damages was prompted to question the national governments investing alot of money on the imminent APEC forum.
From the air, you can see the extent of the damage caused by the landslide on Lababia island. Two days of rain on the 13th and 14th October, caused several landslides.
The biggest landslide happened near the main village. It blocked off the natural channel of the river creating a dam.
When the dam broke, the water swept through the village, washing away several houses, including a house belonging to a teacher. It also damaged a partially built double classroom as well as the village’s water supply.
Lababia Island off the Morobe coast is relatively isolated. Many of the people live along the scenic portion of the island instead of the sheltered rocky part that faces the mainland.
The landslide and the flood were unexpected.
Last week, the Works department opened a temporary bridge at the 11 mile section in Lae. The Bridge was washed away on the same night when Lababia was hit by the flood.
But even this bridge is being threatened by the new round of bad weather.
