A PORTION of the 45km Goroka/Megabo trunk road in the Eastern Highlands Province is completely washed away by the raging Bena River last week effectively jeopardising the flow of traffic.
Eleven trucks owned and operated by the Megabo tribesmen were grounded in Megabo as 120 metres of road at a place called Korege was washed away last on Sunday night.
An estimated 6,000 people dwelling in Megabo, on the EHP/Madang boarder, are finding it "extremely difficult to travel into Goroka to sell their garden produce and return with trade store goods."
Some opted to walk six hours to Korege, where they can board a PMV truck to Goroka.
Three primary schools and a government-run health facility in the area were shut down following the destruction of that vital road infrastructure.
Torrential rains caused the fast-flowing Bena River burst its banks last Sunday night and destroyed roads, bridges, houses and food gardens.
Countless coffee/citrus trees and domastic animals were also swept away by the floods.
Povincial disaster officer Awepster Seka said his team is working around the clock to source funding from both the provincial and national governments to build a bypass road.
Local leaders in Magabo, Korege, Sinonuga, Sigiri, Rintembe and Magitu are appealing to their local MP and Lands and Physical Planning Minister Benny Alan to acquire relief food supplies for the flood victims.
Provincial administrator Solomon Tato said his administration is currently compiling a comprehensive disaster assessment report for presentation to the national government.
Picture: Korege villagers pointing to the portion where the flooded Bena River swept away part of the 45km Goroka/Magitu trunk road.