Kumil bridge in Madang partially washed away

Kumil Bridge separating the two districts of Bogia and Sumkar in Madang was partly severed early Thursday morning due to a heavy downpour and flooding.

According to the provincial civil engineer in Madang, work on reconstructing the abutment on the Bogia side of the Kumil bridge is set to start today.

NBC News was on site yesterday morning and witnessed a footbridge, built of bamboos and logs; being used by commuters as a temporary bridge.

It, however; can only cater for two or three persons with lighter cargoes at one time.

Heavier cargoes like copra bags are being ferried across the river on a boat.

According to the local people, wet crossing is impossible as the river banks are quite steep.

Most of the commuters on site yesterday were betel nut traders, copra producers, the usual town goers, and local youths who were helping to carry cargoes across the bridge and the footbridge.

The whole structure remains shaky, and drivers are being warned not to risk driving onto the bridge.

PMV operators along the Madang/ Bogia Road are calling on the government to quickly restore the bridge.

This route also serves the people of East Sepik, especially those from Angoram who come in by boat, and then by truck into Madang Town.

Bernard Buka, a PMV owner from Mikarew in the Bogia District, described the problem a ' negligence by government'.

He said they saw the problem coming and have been talking with responsible government leaders to fix it, but their requests fell on deaf ears.

He added that the Department of Works and Highways must act quickly before the entire structure collapses.

The Kumil Bridge is the 4th bridge in the province to be affected in the first few weeks of 2026 after Aumea, Yanamu and Iguruwe on the Madang/ Ramu Highway.

Meanwhile, amongst the stranded commuters yesterday was a team of health workers from the Lutheran Health Services that was returning to Madang after conducting a health survey in the Bogia District.