Thirteen houses at Draubuta village in Navosa were affected by the sediment flow earlier this year

Six houses were completely destroyed while seven incurred minor damages.

This was confirmed by Minister for Infrastructures, Jone Usamate following an initial damage assessment that was conducted by the National Disaster Management Office.

Usamate says the village’s natural environment which includes its food resources were also destroyed.

As part of its rehabilitation and recovery programme – a team from the NDMO worked closely with the Mineral Resources Department to conduct an assessment in the village.

It was confirmed that the root cause of the sediment flow was due to the washout of stockpile materials.

The Minister reveals that families whose homes were destroyed will be relocated when a rehabilitation process will begin which includes the construction of new homes.

The relocation site will first undergo a geo-tech assessment by the MRD to test the stability of the soil.