A woman and two children were tragically killed last night in Lae, Papua New Guinea, when a massive, decaying tree collapsed during a heavy downpour. The incident, which occurred in the Kamkumung Assinghu, Y2K area, Ward 15 of the Ahi Local Level Government (LLG), also left more than eight people badly injured.
The deceased children were reported to be around 9 to 11 years old. Following the tragedy, the injured were rushed to the Angau Memorial Provincial Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment for various injuries.
The old, towering tree that fell was a structure that had long provided shade and shelter for the community. Its collapse destroyed eleven houses in total, taking the lives of the three individuals.
Ward Councillor, Awagasi Aisen, expressed his shock and sorrow, alleging that the deaths were a preventable tragedy. He emphasized the need for residents to be mindful of their surrounding environment, especially when constructing homes near huge, old, and decaying trees.
“It is an unfortunate situation witnessed tragically by the members of the community, with two very young lives lost and that of a woman as well. Eight are currently in critical condition and are at the Angau Memorial Provincial Hospital,” he said.
Councillor Aisen called upon relevant authorities, specifically the Disaster Office, to urgently look into the matter and provide assistance to the families who lost their homes.
“I call on responsible authorities, especially the Disaster Office to look into this issue and assist the families that lost their homes last night by the falling tree.”
He further committed to working closely with authorities to ensure a thorough inspection of the Ward 15 area for potential hazards, including decaying trees and hanging tree branches, to prevent similar incidents in the future.
