Fire at Martyr’s Memorial Secondary School in PNG

May 30, 2019

On Thursday 23 May, 2019, a fire burnt down the two-storey dormitory and a staff house at the historic Martyr’s Memorial Secondary School in Popondetta, Papua New Guinea. According to witnesses, the blaze spread quickly but luckily no one was injured.

The daughter of the School Chaplain, Fr Richard Sawaraba, was the only one in the house at the time, but bystanders were able to break the windows to rescue her.

The police, along with school and church representatives, are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Martyr’s Memorial Secondary School was established by Anglican missionaries in 1948, and celebrated its 70th anniversary last year. It was built in memory of the Martyrs of New Guinea, twelve Anglicans who were killed during the Japanese occupation of PNG in World War II.

Former students have begun discussions to raise funds to assist up to sixty students and the chaplain’s family.

Please keep the school’s teachers, students and staff members in your prayers as they focus on their work and upcoming examinations during this unsettling period.

 

(Image: emtv.com.pg)