BAD WEATHER AFFECTS EFFORTS TO RETRIEVE BODIES FROM CRASH SITE

By Martha LOUIS

RESCUE efforts to retrieve bodies of passengers from the Sapmanga plane crash site in Morobe province has been severelyhampered by persistent rain, heavy cloud cover, and challenging terrain.

This has caused the delay in the retrieval of the victims from Sunday’s tragic plane crash.

Two attempts made on Christmas Day to recover the bodies of the four passengers failed due to poor weather and the crash site’s remote, densely forested location.

The wreckage of the B2-SAM aircraft, operated by North Coast Aviation, was located in the rugged mountains near Sapmanga, with all five people onboard confirmed dead, including pilot David Sandery, a Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary member, and the First Secretary to the Housing Minister.

Tactical teams are now stationed at Sapmanga Airstrip, while operations coordination has been moved to Nadzab and Lae’s Disaster Office.

On Tuesday, Sandery’s body was successfully recovered and brought to Lae. Efforts to retrieve the remaining victims are continuing as rescue teams persist through difficult conditions.

Additional support, including local villagers and tactical units, is being mobilized to clear pathways and improve access to the crash site.

Only access to the site is possible by winch from a helicopter, but weather remains a significant obstacle.

Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso stated, “The recovery operation is still ongoing, but the terrain is steep and uninhabitable—even locals don’t go there.

Police and defense recovery teams are doing their best, despite being hampered by the terrain, cloud cover, and weather.”

Authorities are urging patience as they work to complete the recovery mission

under these challenging circumstances.

Disaster Director Charlie Masange is expected to host a press conference later this afternoon to provide further updates on the situation.

Pictures Supplied.