Massive sinkhole swallows village in PNG

Sinkhole swallows village. Photo credit: Benjamin Kodoga 

A sinkhole in PNG's Ambunti Station in Upper Sepik has buried a village. There  are no reports of death but about more then  82 people have been displaced by the unusual landslip that destroyed 16 of their houses last weekend.

A spokesman for the affected families Peter Ekinai says there were no casualties but the affected people who have lost all their personal belongings worth thousands of Kina, are living with relatives or in makeshift homes.

Another local Jamie Asa explains this is an usually occurrence.

"Ol ino expectim em kain olsem sink hole we ino olsem landslide o guria karamapim, graun em just collapse na em i buruk na go long wara," Asa said.

"Em bikpla dry season mipla wok lo feisim long hia na displa kain samting em kamap olsem, ino usual tumas long kamap bikos normally bai mipla havim taim em high wara taim."

East Sepik Governor Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare skipped Parliament session on Tuesday to fly to the affected area.

He met with the displaced people and assured them of the Provincial Government's assistance.

Sir Michael urged the people along the Sepik River bank to build their homes inland and not at the edge of the river.

He says climate change is having a drastic effect on the environment and the people must be aware of these changes in their own environment to avoid tragedy.