Cyclone Maila hits Papua New Guinea
Tropical Cyclone Maila killed at least 11 people in Papua New Guinea after triggering widespread flooding and landslides, and relief operations are under way in affected areas. The reports note that PNG’s difficult logistics and limited capacity will complicate recovery as aid is mobilised. (caliber.az)
At least 11 people have died in Papua New Guinea after Tropical Cyclone Maila triggered floods and landslides across Bougainville and Milne Bay. (abc.net.au) Most of the deaths were reported in Bougainville, where eight people were killed in a landslide at Asiko Village in Kongara constituency on April 9. Local reports cited by Radio New Zealand said roads were cut, food gardens were damaged, and injured residents were taken to Kakusida Health Centre. (rnz.co.nz) Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said relief teams were trying to reach remote communities with food, water and temporary shelter, but contact with some islands and villages remained difficult. Arawa District Hospital in Bougainville asked for basic supplies for injured people and their families. (abc.net.au) Maila had already crossed the Solomon Islands before turning toward eastern Papua New Guinea. On April 9 at 00:00 Coordinated Universal Time, European civil protection officials said the storm was about 200 kilometres south of Bougainville with sustained winds of 185 kilometres an hour and heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge forecast for eastern Papua New Guinea. (reliefweb.int) The storm mattered beyond wind speed because it moved slowly through the Solomon Sea, keeping rain over the same islands for days. ABC reported that Maila lingered in the region for most of the week and at one point reached Category 5 before weakening. (abc.net.au) That is a dangerous setup in Bougainville and Milne Bay, where many communities sit on steep slopes or low-lying coasts and depend on a small number of roads, bridges, jetties and airstrips. In Bougainville, schools were cancelled after roads and bridges were destroyed and food supply chains were badly disrupted. (abc.net.au) By April 12, Papua New Guinea’s National Weather Service had downgraded Maila to an ex-tropical cyclone, but it still warned of strong winds for the next couple of days and issued gale warnings for Manus, New Ireland, East Sepik and West Sepik. Marape said the national government would work with provincial authorities and the Autonomous Bougainville Government on relief. (emtv.com.pg) Australia announced 2.5 million Australian dollars in humanitarian assistance on April 12 for Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, including an initial 1 million Australian dollars for Papua New Guinea focused on Bougainville and islands in Milne Bay Province. Canberra said the money would support relief supplies, technical assistance and local partner organisations. (foreignminister.gov.au) The immediate task now is reaching settlements that are isolated by washed-out roads, damaged bridges and rough seas. Officials in Papua New Guinea have said more reports are still coming in, which means the toll and the damage picture could rise as crews get into cut-off areas. (abc.net.au)
