A child is still in a critical condition at the Popondetta General Hospital while the condition of two other children have been stablised.
Popondetta General Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr Gunzee Gawin told Loop PNG today that the three children were on the PMV truck that was involved in a nasty accident on Monday afternoon with an Oil palm fruit truck.
Dr Gawin told Loop PNG that the death toll still remains at 13 from Monday from the 29 passenger in the PMV truck.
However, four patient has been discharged this morning while 12 are still in hospital with three of them in a very critical condition.
Dr Gawin said a mass burial will be done early next week depending on the outcome of the post mortems.
He said the Port Moresby General Hospital CEO has kindly approved their request to have two Pathologists to travel to Popondetta and perform post mortems tomorrow.
Dr Gawin added that the post mortems will be done over the weekend.
Meanwhile, he said Higaturu Oil Palm Management have assisted them with a tent for a makeshift autopsy area so the doctors can perform two postmortems simultaneously.
“Thirteen is a lot for one person.”
Dr Gawin has extended his appreciation to those assisting during this time.
The team will be led by the country’s Senior Forensic Pathologist Dr Philip Golpak and will be assisted by another Pathologist, Dr Josephine Chanoan.
Meanwhile, the relatives of the deceased have demanded a K50 million compensation claim from Higaturu Oil Palm Ltd. It is understood Oro leaders David Arore and Delailah Gore will be talking with Higaturu on behalf of the relatives.
It is alleged that the Oil palm fruit truck drove into the lane of the oncoming PMV truck which caused Oro’s biggest road accident in its history.
The driver and crew of the fruit truck fled the scene and are yet to be arrested by police.
The accident claimed 13 lives.