PNG's Highlands Highway shut by bridge wash out

11:39 am on 17 February 2016

Papua New Guinea's vital Highlands Highway has been closed under further notice after a washout near Goroka in Eastern Highlands.

The Works and Implementation Secretary David Wereh announced this yesterday.

Mr Wereh said the Highway is temporarily closed after the Bena Bridge, near Goroka, was washed away by continuous heavy rain.

The Post Courier reports him saying that the situation is beyond the department's control due to the extreme weather causing wide spread flooding across much of the country.

Papua New Guinea's busy Highlands Highway.

The Highlands Highway. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades