by Eric Haurupma – EM TV, Port Moresby
Porebada Primary School in Central province is now underwater, due to the swelling king tide.
Flowing seawater is depositing rubbish waste like plastics, logs and mud into lower-built classrooms and the surroundings.
Since Tuesday, classes have been cancelled, with students sent home. Remains of deposited wood debris, plastics and puddles make up the surroundings. At 10:40am this morning, the king tide surged again, while students were in class.
It took less than a minute for the classrooms to overflow with water. The tide circled its way through the gaps in the western end of the school fence, carrying with it all the debris. The king tide is not new to residents of Porebada, who have experienced the phenomenon over the years.
Students have been affected by this natural disaster since the first king tide was experienced in 2008. Today is no exception as students have been facing the same effects again. At the end of this phenomenon, a continuous disruption of classes typically follows.
Students were forced to leave the school premises in light of the situation. Relocation to higher ground is an expensive exercise, but building a sea wall is a convenient approach.
Eric Haurupma is a UPNG Journalism student.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=PmvF8cfG58c%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
