Heavy rains in the highlands provinces have caused destruction to bridges and roads in the remote areas.
Several access roads in the region have been cut off, isolating a large number of rural communities while the Highlands Highway is under threat of being cut off by landslips in several locations between Eastern Highlands and Jiwaka Province.
In the Chimbu Province, the Kundiawa-Gembolg road was cut off in three locations on Sunday night after heavy rains. The Dokorr Creek Bridge along the Gumine road, outside Kundiawa, was also covered by debris, cutting off the link from Gumine.
Chimbu Provincial Administrator Joe Kunda Naur yesterday called on the Works Department to access the damaged parts of roads in the province and repair them.
Kunda said for many years, the Chimbu Provincial Government spent money fixing destroyed sections of access and link roads, which were supposed to be maintained by the National Works Department.
“The Works Department should come and fix the damaged sections of the roads that are under their jurisdiction. We have spent so much money covering them for so long.”
The PA called on those living near the affected areas to not take advantage of the deteriorating conditions by conducting illegal activities such as charging fees on commuters.
In Jiwaka Province, the already destroyed Kindeng-Kondopina section of the Dei-Jiwaka highway, which had remained unattended for three years, suffered added damages.
The highway that links the coffee-rich Dei District, in Western Highlands Province, to North and Anglimp South Waghi districts in Jiwaka, has not been repaired since the highway was cut off in 2014.
The flooded Tuman River, in Western Highlands, changed its course and flowed through coffee plantations, food gardens, and homes beyond the highway, destroying anything in its path.
Other provinces in the region also experienced disasters caused by flood and landslips over the weekend.
(Repair work being carried out on the road near kundiawa town yesterday.)