Flood destroys houses, food gardens

By ANGELINE KARIUS

A child standing knee-deep in floodwaters in front of his home at Laloki in Central after it subsided at around 10am yesterday. The Laloki River burst its banks yesterday morning and destroyed food gardens and many other properties. Many families, especially mothers and children, were brought to Port Moresby for their safety. – Nationalpic by ANGELINE KARIUS

More than 500 people have been displaced and food gardens destroyed at Laloki, outside Port Moresby, due to heavy rains experienced recently in the nation’s capital city, The National reports.
According to locals in the area, heavy downpour in the late hours of Tuesday continued until early Wednesday morning.
Women and children have been reportedly taken at first light immediately into the city by relatives.
A mother from the area said around midnight, water began seeping into their homes.
She said everyone evacuated to higher ground with their children in tow.
“We were scared for our lives.
“All our food gardens have been destroyed in the flood,” she said.
She added that the entire highway was flooded that vehicles could not even pass until 10am yesterday.
“Only our immediate families have come to assist us to evacuate to safer grounds,” she added.
NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop advised the families to immediately evacuate the area.
He said with the weather pattern experienced recently, it might cause other problems if they remained.