Markham

A landslide occurred at Umbaku, in Leron-Wantoat, at 5am on Friday, December 29th, 2023, killing three people while a young man is still missing. An unconfirmed number of people were also injured.

Houses were destroyed, food and cash crop gardens buried and water sources contaminated. 

Officers from the Morobe Provincial Disaster Office provided K2,000 worth of food supplies and shelter to Matap on Wednesday, January 3rd, while the Markham District Development Authority is yet to visit the affected area. 

Morobe rural police commander, Superintendent David Warap, said when a Mobile Squad 13 section went to Gumia village to contain the situation, there was no one present as people had fled their homes following the July 12^th confrontation between the gang and a resistant group.

During that time, a member of the suspected cult group was beheaded while another man from the resistant group was killed.

Women from the in Abayagam and Yuweng hamlets of Ngariawang community in Markham district, Morobe Province have always faced water issues until World Vision’s assistance with Water Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) project.

An emotional Salome Isaac, who is a WASH Committee member in Yuweng Hamlet said women used to bathe once a day during menstruation due to the unavailability of water in the village and had no choice but to bathe and change their pads once a day as it is quite too far to frequently reach the water source to clean themselves.

Following behind is the Huon Gulf District, Tewai-Siassi and Finschhafen.

Cocoa Board of PNG’s regional manager, Anthon Ningi, said between September 2020 and September 2021, the Umi-Atzera LLG in Markham produced 2,200 tonnes, which was worth K14 million.

“Displa moni em raun insait lo Markham – K14 million,” he stated.

“Em lo Umi-Atzera. Yu go antap bai yu lukim senis i kirap antap lo hap; sto kamap, exporters i go sidaun, bank i go antap.

“Yumi go daun Onga-Waffa, em i bin wokim 261 tan, na moni em i kisim – K1 million.

Electoral Commissioner, Simon Sinai said the decision to declare the leading candidates for Markham and Kabwum following the burning of ballot papers and destruction to the counting centres was done to protect future elections.

“It is a tough decision but I had to take it in order to protect our electoral systems. We cannot give into to criminal elements and surrender our authority to administer and run elections. These incidents in Markham and Kabwum are the first of its kind and I must put my feet down and make the call,” he said.

Frustration started mounting when voters found out that their names were not on the electoral roll.

Hundreds of residents turned on the counting officials, who ran away for fear of their safety.

The crowd then grabbed the election materials, smashed ballot boxes and burnt the ballot papers.

An eyewitness told this newsroom that a tractor was also burnt while the Electoral Commission container was ransacked.

The foreigners, who operate a wholesale business at Mutzing, Morobe Province, had allegedly refused to pay a K10,000 fine for violating pandemic measure 11.

On the 9th of May this year, Pandemic Controller, David Manning, issued Measure No.11 under the National Pandemic Act 2020 on price controls.
The prices of basic household goods such as rice, flour, oil, tinned fish, sugar, laundry soap and bleach should not increase by more than 10 percent unless approved by the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission.

The MP says while road conditions are often responsible for road accidents, it is avoidable if drivers are careful.

He says it’s about drivers driving safely, carefully and within the speed limits.

With sketchy facts, the MP did not want to comment further.

The road accident on Saturday caused 7 deaths and 21 injuries, with 4 people still admitted at the hospital and 1 in critical condition.

It was the result of a collision between a 15-seater PMV bus and a five door vehicle travelling up to Nadzab.

21 patients were from the Nasuapum, Markham accident on Saturday.

The hospital confirmed 7 deaths from that tragic vehicle accident.

Four victims – three female and the driver of the bus – are currently admitted at the hospital.

The driver is in critical condition.

Apart from this, the hospital also received 4 casualties from a vehicle accident in Ramu, 4 casualties from an accident in Mumeng and 7 casualties from a road accident in Bulolo.

No confirmed deaths have been reported from these three accidents.

Morobe Provincial Police Commander, Augustine Wampe confirmed the accident happened this morning.

Around 7 people have reportedly died after a 15-seater PMV bus collided with a five door vehicle travelling up to Nadzab.

PPC Wampe says details of the accident are sketchy at the moment but he will reveal specifics later on in the day.  

He says he is still waiting for the full report from the Highway Patrol unit that responded to the accident.  

(A picture from witnesses showing the crumpled up 15-seater bus with a few victims still inside)