Cyclone Maila causes flooding and damage in West New Britain

Mudflow in Ubili village in West New Britain Province. (Supplied: Muthuvel)

As the effects of Tropical Cyclone Maila are being felt in parts of the country, West New Britain Province has also been hit with torrential rains and strong winds.

The bad weather has caused damages mainly to infrastructure like roads and bridges and also inundated parts of some villages in the Nakanai District.

Initial reports reaching the Provincial Authorities, including the Office of the Governor, Sasindran Muthuvel indicate that the worst affected areas are in the East Nakanai Local Level Government area.

In the Talasea District, flooding and fallen trees were the main incidents reported to the authorities.

Fallen trees blocking off a road in Nakanai (Supplied: Muthuvel)

Provincial Disaster and Emergency Services Director, Clement Bailey says despite no major incidents having been reported to his office, he has dispatched officers to the three districts of the province to do assessments and report back to him.

He renewed calls to the general public to take precautions when going about their daily activities given that the bad weather is being brought about by a tropical cyclone.

Mr Bailey also called on all small boat operators in the province to refrain from traveling out to sea at this time.

The same warning also applies to coastal communities to be prepared for tidal surges and strong winds.

Flooding cuts off a road network in Nakanai District (Image: Supplied)

Meanwhile, Governor Muthuvel has called on the Minister for Works and Highways to send officers to the province and assess the damages done, mainly to the road infrastructure.

He explained that the heavy flooding has now worsened parts of the New Britain Highway that were previously already in a bad state and the Works Department must take urgent measures to fix the roads.

Mr Muthuvel clarified that the Provincial Government cannot do much to fund the maintenance of the roads as funds earmarked for the New Britain Highway are parked with the Department of Works and Highways.

He added that the New Britain Highway has continued to decline over the past years due to the lack of maintenance carried out by the Department of Works and Highways, despite budgeted funds being paid to the department.

Governor Muthuvel says this is the same scenario being faced with maintaining other national roads in the province, including the Kimbe to Kandrian Highway.