Papua New Guinea flooding/landslifes from heavy rain

[senorpepr]

Weeks of heavy rain in Papua New Guinea has caused widespread flooding, landslides and severe damage to infrastructure.

In Madang Province, floodwaters have destroyed hundreds of homes, a community school, a mission station and two bridges in the Ramu Valley.

The Regional Member for Madang and Inter-Government Relations Minister, Sir Peter Barter, says the damage has been extensive.

"We also have a number of people stranded along the Walium river, which is flooded by three meters of water, and people on the tops of houses," he said.

"And today we're sending in boats to try and pick up those people and bring them back to safety.

"The problem is we don't know whether the rain is going to continue. If it is, all the people in that area would have to be evacuated."