Kouaoro Island just across the Sirinumu Dam at Sogeri in the Hiri Koiari district of Central Province is feared to be submerging due to the continuous heavy rains in the area.
Kouaoro Island in Sirinumu is home to 3 Local Level Government (LLG) in Koiari with almost a 4,000 population of people.
Sirinumu Dam Ward 17 Councilor Mr. Geno Vincent stated that due to the continues heavy rainfalls since last year, this has very much affected the island, and it looks like the whole island will soon be submerged under water if the rain continues.
Mr. Vincent added that most food gardens are nowhere to be seen as they have all been inundated by rising level of the water.
“The dam is full over its capacity; thus, it is causing soil erosions too, and most kaukau, tapiok and other staple food crops have all submerge in the rising water level”.
“Power poles along the Sirinumu dam to the Kouaoro Island are all under the water, whilst live electricity is still flowing, posing so much danger for our people.”
Councilor Vincent further highlighted that the rising level of water has posed so much risk for the travelling children going to and from school via their canoes.
“The Sirinumu Primary school is isolated on another island so children from all 3 LLGs in Sirinumu had to travel bay canoe every day to and from school, and with rising level it has made it riskier because at some times when the canoes capsized the kids often swim to the nearest tree and hang on to the tree whilst waiting for rescue but right now, they cannot do that because all trees are under water.”
“All the trees are under water, even a house at the Sirinumu School is under water and we are afraid our island village might be all under water,” said Councilor Vincent.
Councilor Vincent further added that this issue was not yet brought to the Hiri Koiari District Disaster office nor the Central Provincial Disaster Office, but he is grateful that PNG HAUSBUNG has reached out to the community to get their story.
“We are sinking, our food gardens under water, please we need officers from the district and provincial Disaster office to come to Sirinumu to assess our situation and provide some form of relief assistants to us”.
“We are in dire need of Food relief assistance right now.”
Councilor Vincent also stated that it would be a relief assistant if local Member of Parliament purchase a dinghy for their school to be used as the school transport to ferry students to and from school every day. 
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