More than a hundred policemen and their families in Papua New Guinea's second largest city, Lae, are homeless following the condemning of the Bumbu police barracks.
The Post Courier newspaper reports that the barracks were condemned an inspection by provincial health authorities, the lands and physical planning board, and police.
The inspection revealed termite infestations in most of the buildings, which lack supplies of power and water, and serious sewage overflows.
The inspectors say to relocate the police and rebuild the barracks would cost the state more than 38 and a half million US dollars.
They say restoring power, water and sewerage to the existing barracks would cost about 23 million US dollars.
Meanwhile Lae police are still on full alert after 21 prisoners escaped from a central police cell earlier this week, sparking fears of a crime wave.
