By Serah Aupong – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Scientists have confirmed that the wet season in Papua New Guinea has started, and will continue for the next four months.
However, it is not all good news as explained by the Chairman of the National Disaster Awareness and Preparedness Committee, Samuel Maiha, today.
“Drought conditions and frost conditions are gone, they are history.”
Mr Maiha confirmed what everyone has been hoping for; the worst of the El Nino is over for PNG. However, with the monsoon season comes new risks.
“I think the country really needs to be prepared over the next four months for things like strong winds, flooding resulting in possible landslides and also tropical cyclones as well, that’s our forecast moving forward,” he said.
While the warning is for the whole country, the New Guinea Islands region will be more at risk as there is an “increased risk” there than the rest of the country.
While the wet season has started in the country, the El Nino is not over and its lingering conditions will impact the amount of rainfall that will fall over the next four months.
And particularly for Port Moresby, this is not good news as “lower than average cumulative rainfall” is expected from December to April or May and Mr Maiha said, “Sirinumu dam for instance may not be filled so over the superseding dry season, there may be the risk of water shortage.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=LpdhvAc3rt4%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
