KUCHING, Feb 6 — Flood evacuees in Sarawak rose to 3,231 people from 908 families at 20 relief centres as of 5pm today compared to 3,121 people from 837 families at noon.
According to the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, of the total, 1,818 evacuees from 506 families were from Samarahan division, 1,171 people from 329 families from Serian while Mukah recorded 242 evacuees from 73 families.
Residents in Samarahan affected by the floods were placed at eight relief centres, namely Sebuyau Community Hall, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Haji Bujang Rangawan Putin, Kampung Seruyuk Mosque, Kota Samarahan Civic Centre Hall, Sadong Jaya UN Resource Centre, SK Kampung Mang, SK Haji Kelali and Asajaya Sports Complex.
Evacuees from nine areas in Serian were housed at nine relief centres, namely Betong Kenawit Hall, Lintang Baru Panchor Hall, SK Samarahan Estate, Surau Hadhari Kampung Rimba Padi, St Peter's School Kampung Soh, Kampung Slabi Entuuh Hall, Serian Community Hall, SK Tanah Putih and the latest at Selcra Kedup 2 Hall.
Three relief centres, namely SK Parish Balingian, Suarah Mesra Mukah Hall and Balingian Community Hall housed evacuees from four areas affected by the floods in Mukah.
Meanwhile in SIBU, the Selangau-Tatau road at Sungai Arip, about 132 km from here, was inaccessible to vehicles when two parts of it were inundated by 1.2 metres of flood water since this morning.
“This has affected the dwellers of the 36-door Rumah Janting and 17-door Rumah Lanting who are now taking shelter at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Arip,”said Sarawak administrative officer (SAO) at Selangau District Office Anyie Awing.
He said about 23 other longhouses in Selangau, Balingian, Tamin, Sekuau and Sungai Arip were affected by the flood.
“All of the relevant agencies in the district are going out to access the situation at the affected longhouses or those that have yet to come to request for assistance or need to be evacuated.
“We are still gathering more information. This is all that I can report at the moment,” he said, adding that the 24-hour Selangau Disaster Operation Room at the Selangau District Office had been activated.
Meanwhile, the Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak Facebook page reported that the road at the existing overtaking lane after Stapang, more than 50 km from here, caved in at about noon today.
Its project team was at the site for remedial work and advised motorists to drive safely when approaching the stretch. — Bernama
