MOROBE AREA MEDICAL STORE BURNS

By Ricky Israel

This morning, a major fire destroyed the Morobe Area Medical Store, a key supply center for health facilities in the region.

The fire started around 2:38 AM, and the Lae fire station responded quickly, arriving within two minutes. By the time they got there, about 75% of the building was already burning.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, and a formal investigation will start tomorrow. Authorities expect it will take two to three days to determine what caused the fire.

The Morobe Area Medical Store is vital for supplying medicine to nearly 200 health facilities across Morobe Province, as well as Eastern Highlands, Madang, Manus, and Sepik provinces.

In Lae City, seven urban clinics that serve 200 to 300 patients each day depend on this store.

The fire’s impact will affect over 2,000 health facilities, including Morobe’s Provincial Angau Memorial Hospital.

The firefighters worked for about four hours to control the blaze, which was difficult due to chemicals and gases in the store.

They are still on site, handling smaller fires and keeping a close watch.

Lae Fire Station Commander Luke Mungus has asked residents to use the emergency numbers 4724333 or 4724818 if they see a fire and to call for help immediately.

Acting Lae Metropolitan Superintendent James Luan has been informed but has not yet provided more details. If there is any indication of criminal activity, police investigations will follow.