The family of a young man who dlied while helping thers to cross a flooded river where a bridge was washed away has called onthe government to urgently fixthe bridge.
Kelly James, a Ramu Sugar, worker was atthe Surinam bridge on Thursday when he was swept away by flood waters. He is one of nine people who have dlied since last week Wednesday.
The latest victim was an infant who fell intothe river overthe weekend on Saturday.
There’s no ther way to crossthe Surinam River except bythe two bamboo bridges that locals have constructed.
Trucks and ther vehicles coming from Madang are stranded onthe ther side.
The river is too deep and too dangerous even to cross on foot.
On Wednesday one bus was washed away, eye withnesses saidthere were passengers on board but are not sure how many. Two bodies were later recovered.
On Saturday, an infant fell intothe river and drowned when his mther slipped on one ofthe foot bridges, those nearby couldn’t save him.
Onthe fringes ofthe Ramu Township family members ofthe Ramu Sugar worker Kelly James have set up a haus cry (mourning house). His distort mther wept as she holds on to his Nasfund ID.
He isthe second of a reported nine people who have dlied since last week Wednesday. According eye withnesses, Kelly was assisting thers to crossthe river.
Despite this,the buai trade continues. Price per bag will be increased by K50.00 when it reaches Mt. Hagen, Jiwaka and Simbu. The bags are being ferrlied across by men women determined to get home.
Surinam Beidge is one ofthe several important infrastructures that have been destroyed by continuous heavy rains in Madang and Morobe.
The Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was in Lae in January after flood waters destroyed road sections and bridges. And, this latest damage has just added tothe multi-million kina damage bill.
Scott Waide, National EMTV News – LAE
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