Kadovar

Wewak District CEO Martin Maingu said the government is still making considerations for a permanent resettlement.

They want to ensure that there are no issues tied to the people of Kadovar when they choose the area in which they want the people to settle.

At present the rest of the 39.5 hectares of land, of which they bought 3.5 from, remains an option.

The Wewak DDA and the National Government purchased the 3.5 hectares of land for K110,000, and this has helped the settlers to be self-sustaining.

Payments were made for a piece of land measuring 3.5 hectares on the mainland so that those now settled at the Dandan care centre can make gardens and access resources to make life sustainable.

Wewak District CEO Martin Maingu said the settlers are exercising self-sustenance.

Maingau said a month has passed since he has heard of any issues arising out of Dandan Care Centre, and puts it down to the islanders just settling in.

“While the focus had been on the earthquake disaster in the Southern highlands, we sometimes overlook the other disasters that have occurred in Papua New Guinea recently,” Witham stated.

The Kadovar eruption on January 2018 has left many people displaced and had a major impact on the lives of people in the Eastern Sepik area.

The sleeping volcano started erupting on January 5.

In its 25th situation report, the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory (RVO) said the main crater produced continuous moderate to thick dark grey ash clouds up to February 27^th, at which time they changed to thick white vapour. 

East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird, said a recent change in wind direction has resulted in ash drifting towards the Biem Island.

He said if this continues, the coast of Madang Province could be affected, including Bogia District and Manam resettlement centre.

Meanwhile, the Governor said they have begun planning for any likely event that Biem Islanders may need to be evacuated due to the effects of the volcano.

“With the change in the wind direction, a lot of the ashes from the Kadovar volcano are falling on Biem Island and towards Manam and Bogia.

He made the comments during the donation of K50,000 from Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) yesterday.

Governor Bird received a cheque from KPHL Managing Director, Wapu Sonk, towards relief efforts for the aftermath of the Kadovar Island volcanic eruption.

Sonk said KPHL, being the national oil and gas company, has a social responsibility to all Papua New Guineans and obligated to help the people of Kadovar at this time of need.

Governor Bird thanked Sonk for the donation and said the level of support received has been overwhelming.

In its 17^th situation report, the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory (RVO) said the main crater produced moderate emissions of thick white vapour clouds whilst the western vent produced weak to moderate thin-to-thick white vapour.

“A continuous white steam plume is rising from the SE coastal vent to 100m above the island and is then blown to the SE,” reported the Observatory.

“Sub-continuous dull glow was visible throughout the night of the (January) 28-29th.”

Governor Allan Bird said from reports received recently, the situation in Kadovar Island will most likely worsen.

He said the actual status of the volcanic activity at this stage is unknown however, there is a possibility of a disaster just waiting to happen.

He pointed out that experts believe they are at risk of tsunamis.

Bird said the future of the islanders is uncertain however, they are positive that they will secure land and in fact, the Kaup area has been set aside.

The governor reiterated that they are aware of at least ten volcanoes in the province.

The Rabaul Volcanological Observatory, in its 12^th situation report, noted several discrete explosions on Sunday morning from the same vent, described as moderate to large.

“The main crater produced weak to moderate dark grey ash clouds to 500-800m above the summit,” reported the RVO.

“It is referred to as continuous vulcanian activity.”

The Observatory has reported that sulphur dioxide (SO2) gases are being emitted from the volcano and have shown a strong signal in the last few days.

This will be the second wheelbarrow push.

The first was held last Saturday.

According to the Madang Provincial Disaster Centre, who is working closely with the community in raising funds, a number of wheelbarrow push will be done before they send the funds to help the displaced islanders.

The team is appealing to all Sepiks in Madang Town and the general public, including business houses, to lend a helping hand.

(A similar initiative is being carried out in the nation’s capital)