Floods force more than 2,000 folk in Kuching, Samarahan and Sibu out of their homes

Floods force more than 2,000 folk in Kuching, Samarahan and Sibu out of their homes

By ZORA CHAN & LEONARD PHANG
sarawakstar@thestar.com.my

KUCHING: Continuous heavy rain coupled with king tides between 6m and 6.2m high have forced more than 2,000 people out of their homes here, in Samarahan and Sibu.

The bad weather, which started since Saturday and continued till yesterday, have inundated some low-lying areas with 1m of floodwater.

According to the State Ops Room, some villagers from Sadong Jaya area had to move out of their homes around 7pm on Christmas due to rising floodwater.

As of yesterday afternoon, officials said about 1,500 people involving 374 families from six villages in Sadong Jaya and Asajaya, Samarahan division, had been evacuated to five relief centres.

As at 6pm, Kota Samarahan police chief ASP Abdul Rahman Ahmad said 143 families involving 576 people had been placed at the Asajaya Sports Complex, 195 families (729 people) at SK Kelali, 12 families (30 people) at SK Terasi and 24 families (163 people) at Surau Rengawan.

The relief centre at Dewan Kampung Pelanduk had also been activated, he added.

In Sibu, the State Ops Room said more than 500 people from 121 families from four longhouses near Sungai Arip, Ulu Balingian were evacuated around 3am yesterday after it rained nonstop for two days.

Several low-lying areas in Kuching such as Samariang Batu, Kampung Beradik and Kampung Tengah Sungai Batu Kawah were also flooded, forcing more than 200 people out of their homes.

A State Ops Room official said the Malaysia Meteorological Department had issued an Orange stage warning, saying heavy rain would last until this evening and might cause floods in low-lying areas, particularly here and in Bau.

The department had also issued a Yellow stage or heavy rain advisory, saying that Lundu, Samarahan, Asajaya, Serian, Simunjan, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Betong, Saratok, Sarikei, Bintangor, Pakan, Julau, Mukah, Dalat, Matu and Daro would still be experiencing intermittent rain today.

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