Widespread flooding in West New Britain cuts off parts of New Britain Highway

The torrential rain currently being experienced in parts of the country has wreaked havoc in West New Britain Province.

According to reports reaching the provincial authorities, the rains have caused widespread flooding cutting off parts of the New Britain Highway from Kimbe to Bialla and inundating low lying areas especially in Kimbe town and along the coast.

Mud flows from the Mt Ulawun volcano has also affected the villages of Ubili and Noau.

An estimated 5000 population from these villages are currently in care centers after they had been displaced by the Mt Ulawun eruption in November last year.

Bialla town businessman, Nixon Volele reported that the mud flows have caused extensive damage and cut off roads in the area affecting local village oil palm smallholders and other businesses,

Machinery is now being moved into the Ubili and Noau areas to divert the mud flows away from the villages after a directive by Governor Sasindran Muthuvel.