A remote village community in Biche, Gatokae, Morovo Lagoon, Western province escaped catastrophic disaster when they were suddenly awoken by a huge land slide and flash flooding about 2am Sunday morning.
Reports reaching the paper said, the biggest from several landslides experienced in the pass just stopped less than 2 meters from their houses.
Two houses were nearly covered as stones, trees and soil from hills behind the village moved down taking whatever on its part towards the village.
A member of the community said it is through God’s hands we were not buried alive.
Almost immediately, on the other end of the small village, flash flood took away a kitchen house and anything that is in the kitchen including personal properties under a nearby residence. This happens when members of the household are still sleeping. Luckily the house was strong enough to withstand the force of the flood.
Village community now is in a serious state of shock as none of such huge landslide and severe flash flooding has ever been seen and experienced in the past. The continuous rain can easily trigger any such hazard to occur again and therefore the community is in high state of alert. They now remain in the village and are too afraid to visit their gardens above the hills.
Few food gardens, and fruit trees around the village are now gone, some taken down by the landslide and others by the flash flood.
The community is appealing to relatives and friends for a donation to be sent to the community immediately. If any one wishes to donate to help members of Biche community, please contact Mr. Pattenson Pudi on Bemobile (677) 8742680 or Alan Agassi on (677) 7490934.
