Madang

Relatives and disgruntled citizens gathered to march up to N7 which resulted in numerous riots and clashes in town. This resulted in properties being damaged, stores looted, residential areas broken into and vehicles stoned.

Police investigations have commenced and suspects are voluntarily giving themselves up according to Provincial Police Commander Superintendent David Seine Jnr. As yet police are unable to release any information regarding the brutal killing of the CID officer.

Prime Minister James Marape expressed his heartfelt sympathy and unwavering support for the people of Madang and neighbouring provinces severely impacted by the devastating 6.7 magnitude earthquake that struck on Saturday evening, October 7, 2023, with its epicentre located at Basamuk in the Rai Coast District.

In response to this tragic disaster, Prime Minister Marape has taken immediate action, swiftly mobilising relevant government departments and agencies to assess the extent of the damage and the number of individuals affected.

Most houses all over town also collapsed, most of them being semi-permanent.

Residents of the Wagol area in Madang felt the most of the impact with numerous houses down.

These are the people who work hard to clean Madang town, now in need they are calling on the Government for immediate assistance.

Casualties from the highways have been moved to Modilon Hospital and the hospital is reportedly full and patients are being treated in the open air outside.

While the extent of the damage will be determined later, several buildings in Madang town have been damaged.and pipelines at Ramu Nico’s Basamuk Refinery have also been reported ruptured.

An urgent disaster report released from Basamuk by the Ramu Nico team states that Basamuk refinery sustained very strong impacts from the quake with operations stopped.

The province is currently facing threats of a drought, which could have severe consequences for both the environment and the local communities.

In the case of Madang, the potential drought threat could impact agriculture, fisheries, and hydropower generation. Already there has been continuous power outages resulting in water cuts, because water supply pumps need power supply to generate water in town.

The awareness session has commenced through various media platforms. The awareness will cover the goal or purpose of the program, background information, criteria and contact information for further enquiries.

According to a media release from the Governor’s office, the goal of the program is to reduce unemployment rate for our people in Madang, especially the youth population and secondly to reduce law and order activities in the Province.

The unrest occurred due to the killing of 26-year-old Reinheart Masule Yakamaw, a youth from the Korak village community, on Friday 21^st July. It is stated that during the time Reinheart was shot, the community at Korak were at a nearby village attending a hauskrai of a former Bogia member.

This is a responsibility they were not expected to shoulder.

ELCPNG Evangelism Department Head, Reverend Hans Giegere, made this statement while officially opening the 39^th ELC Simbu District Women’s Conference at Karani Lutheran Mission Station in the Usino Local Level Government of Usino-Bundi district, Madang Province, on Sunday.

Rev. Giegere noted that such a district gathering is usually hosted by circuits within that district, not at a district mission field like this one.

Governor, Ramsey Pariwa, was at Dimer Village in Sumkar District to launch four village-based projects, namely the Coastline Agro Commodities, Usiseng Trading and PMV Transport, Dimer Kava Buying Project and the St. Joseph Kanenung Primary School Project.

He received a rousing traditional welcome, as children paraded in colorful uniforms to welcome him and the visiting entourage.

Governor Pariwa told the Dimer people that he was inspired to see projects they had initiated, and stands ready to work with industrious individuals and groups.

Numbers of reported HIV and related sexually transmitted infections (STI) have subsequently increase since the beginning of the year. As of last month, 14 people have been diagnosed as living with HIV.

Dr. Susan Kima and her team are now conducting weekly outreach programs for residents and general public. After three successful outreach programs, a fourth setup was established at the Redscar Traffic Office. They intend to set up eight stations.