flooding

Weather delays Air Niugini flight to Honiara

PX 082 was cancelled this morning around 10 am after receiving information from Honiara that passengers and airport handling staff were unable to reach the airport at Honiara’s Henderson International Airport.

The flight has been rescheduled for a 10 am departure on Wednesday with the return flight to be deferred by 24 hours to Thursday.

Air Niugini says it regrets the inconvenience caused and stresses the situation is outside the airline’s control and the safety of customers and staff is always a first priority.

Picture credit: Al Jazeera

 

Heavy rain destroys village in Salamaua

Salamaua LLG councillor Semi Wenis who assisted in evacuating his people to the main village is now in Lae to seek help from appropriate authorities.

He said since Friday, villagers have been affected by the disaster.

The primary school is under water  and classes have been suspended.

The area is known for the Kamiali conservation and it is also affected.

Cr Wenis said while villagers have been moved to  higher  grounds it is still not safe because of heavy rains still experienced in most parts of the province.

Use weather outlooks to minimise disaster impacts: Official

The Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) highlights the importance of seasonal weather outlooks in planning for natural events like El Nino and flooding. 

RIMES institutional development specialist, Ruby Policarpio, says responsible authorities must start using information on weather outlooks more effectively to prepare for disasters.

Policarpio said while there have been repeated impacts of El Nino and flooding in the region, PNG still does not have effective recovery efforts and more importantly, disaster preparedness.

Heavy rains and flooding cause havoc in Bougainville

Last Thursday August 25, many  vehicles  were stuck in two locations of the Buka/Arawa highway, the Aita River in central Bougainville and the Tsunpets River in North Bougainville.

The Tsunpets river bridge was flooded with water  rising over the bridge making it difficult for  vehicles to cross over.

The Aita River traditional called Iorovi river also  broke its banks and blocked off the road and even washed away  several houses  on its banks.

A lot of commuters have complained but they just have to wait until it all subsides.

Locals fed up with flooded roads

The road is the only access for the people of Aroma Coast in Central Province to the Rigo inland areas.

People in the area are now calling on their local members to quickly act to ensure this is avoided in future.

It is indeed a sad sight to see villagers jumping off their vehicles to cross this flooded area, the bridge that links this road is covered under water each time the wet season kicks in.

The road is accessed by people from the Coast and Rigo Inland villages, with most PMVs being forced to abandon their route and turn back.

Heavy weather causing massive destruction in the Highlands

The heavy rains in the region have also caused deadly landslides in the mountain villages with several already claiming lives, including destruction to properties like houses and food gardens.

Several unconfirmed deaths were reported in the remote parts of Enga, Southern Highlands, Hela and Western Highlands provinces.

The Highlands Highway, which coils through the region on mountain-sides and fast flowing creeks, has been hard hit with several portions being cut off from Markham Valley to Porgera in the Enga Province and Komo in the Hela Province.

South America flood worst in 50 years

Days of heavy rains brought on by El Nino have caused three major rivers to swell, and authorities have reported at least six weather-related deaths.

A state of emergency is in force in Paraguay, the worst hit nation, where 130,000 people have fled their homes.

In northern Argentina, some 20,000 people have left their homes.

Dry weather is forecast for the Brazil-Uruguay border region in the next few days, but in Paraguay and Argentina water levels are still expected to rise.

Paraguay

South Carolina still on edge from flooding; 2 people missing

Along the coast, residents prepared for a second round of flooding as rivers swollen from days of devastating rains make their way toward the Atlantic. In the Columbia area, where some returned home to assess damage and clean up, the threat of more flooding still hadn't lifted.

About 1,000 residents near the compromised Beaver Dam were told to evacuate Wednesday morning, though the order was lifted several hours later when crews shored up the dam.

South Carolina still on edge from flooding; 2 people missing

Along the coast, residents prepared for a second round of flooding as rivers swollen from days of devastating rains make their way toward the Atlantic. In the Columbia area, where some returned home to assess damage and clean up, the threat of more flooding still hadn't lifted.

About 1,000 residents near the compromised Beaver Dam were told to evacuate Wednesday morning, though the order was lifted several hours later when crews shored up the dam.

Thousands without power as Phoenix recovers from big storm

The area's two major utilities reported that 50,000 customers still had no electricity Tuesday morning — down from 70,000 immediately after Monday evening's storm.

The severe weather began moving through the area around sundown and swept across central Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe with lightning, winds of up to 65 mph and up to 1.3 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.