Heavy Fuel tanker causes bridge to collapse in the Eastern Highlands

Kinston bridge collapsed. Photo by Everlyn Nema.

One of the oldest and biggest bridges in Kainanatu, Eastern  Highlands Province, collapsed last night under the weight of a huge fuel tanker.

The incident has totally cut off access between Aiyura and Kainantu, leaving major government institutions and setups, out of touch with  the rest of the district.

Aiyura is home to the Summer Institute of Linguistics, National Agriculture Research Institute, Coffee Research, and Aiyura National High School  among others.

Provincial Works Manager, Thomas Dei, confirm that  the Kingston Bridge collapsed into the river with a heavy fuel tanker in  the middle.

According to the provincial works manager, the bridge collapse due to old age, and can not sustain heavy weight.

The bridge was built during colonial days.

Kingston bridge went down with a heavy fuel tanker carrying 10  thousand litters of fuel which belongs to a local company.

This also cause environmental threat to people living down stream. Thomas Dei said provincial works was preparing to construct a new  bridge down stream when the old one collapse.


He said provincial works consider this as a state of emergency and  work on it again.

Mr Dei said works team are on their way to asses the incident.