Access to Mt. Wilhelm in Simbu province, a renowned tourist destination in Papua New Guinea (PNG), has been restored for vehicles following more than a month of closure due to the aftermath of natural disasters on March 12th.
Local company EC Civil Works played a pivotal role in clearing multiple landslips along the Kundiawa-Gembogl road, notably constructing a new bypass at Kangrie village, a few kilometers beyond Gembogl Station towards Mt. Wilhelm.
The road closure was a consequence of the destruction caused by the natural disasters, which included the washing away of a bridge approximately 40 meters downstream during a major flood. The flood also resulted in the destruction of several homes, leaving numerous families homeless.
Mr. Emmanuel Merimba Kenwai, Managing Director of EC Civil Works, spearheaded the emergency road clearance efforts along the Kundiawa-Gembogl Road, utilizing company resources without formal funding.
Kenwai emphasized the importance of restoring access to facilitate the flow of government services to the affected communities, citing his personal connection to the region as a driving factor.
Kenwai expressed gratitude to the Simbu Provincial Disaster Team, led by Provincial Administrator Mr. John Punde and Deputy Provincial Administrator Mr. Chris Mondo, along with Mr. Gand Mond, the Provincial Disaster Team Leader for Kundiawa-Gembogl. Their provision of fuel drums facilitated the road clearance efforts.
Additionally, Kenwai thanked Noah Kool, the Governor of Simbu Province, and the Marape-Roso Government for their response to the natural disasters in Simbu.
The impact of the March 12th disasters has been extensive, affecting hundreds of farmers, small businesses, and essential services such as tourism, health, and education in North Simbu.
Notably, Betty’s Trout Farm, the largest commercial trout farm in the country supplying fish for Coral Sea Hotels in PNG, faced significant disruptions.
Local community leader Steven Dangir expressed appreciation for EC Civil Works’ efforts in creating the new bypass at Kangrie, highlighting its importance in ensuring the continuity of services for the community.
Meanwhile, the owner of Mt. Wilhelm Trout Farm Ms. Betty Higgins, expressed gratitude to all involved parties for their role in restoring access
She suffered losses due to canceled bookings for tourists and commercial fish orders during the period of natural disasters.