24 Aug 2023

Thousands in Bougainville remain displaced following eruption

From , 6:01 am on 24 August 2023
Bougainville government said more than 7,000 people needing temporary accommodation as a result of the eruption.

Bougainville government said more than 7,000 people needing temporary accommodation as a result of the eruption. Photo: Facebook / Autonomous Bougainville Government

The disaster co-ordinator in Bougainville says as many as 60 thousand people have been affected by two months of heavy rain.

This has come at the same time as the eruption of Mt Bagana, which has put at least 3,000 people into displacement centres at Torokina and Wakunai.

With much of South Bougainville also a flood zone the Bougainville Government last week extended a state of emergency until mid-October.  

Disaster co-ordinator, Esther Usurup, spoke with RNZ Pacific's Don Wiseman.