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All food gardens in Abau district with a population of nearly 50,000, have all been destroyed by heavy flooding caused by current heavy rains.

Member for Abau, Sir Puka Temu, told Parliament that all food gardens were now submerged due to the unrelenting rainfall that had been persistent over the past three weeks in the district.

He revealed this during Question Time when asking Inter-Government Relations Minister Job Pomat if an emergency team could be sent to the area to assess and verify reports from his District Administration about the destruction.

Dr Temu said a total of K6 million had been requested for relief assistance, based on the ground assessments done by the district officers.

He said the extent of the destruction went as far as Amazon Bay, Aroma coast and the nearby Rigo district as well.

He said roads had been cut off as severe flooding had washed away culverts and other makeshift crossings.

In reply, a no-nonsense Mr Pomat, said a team from the National Disaster Office would immediately be dispatched to undertake a ground survey and verify the initial reports.

And much to the relief of Dr Temu, Mr Pomat literally dashed out of Parliament to issue instructions for a team to be deployed to the affected areas straight after giving his undertaking.

Elsewhere in the Cental Province, it is understood many in the low-lying areas are facing the same destructive situation as Abau and are expected to make similar appeals for relief assistance.