FLOODS hit northern Sarawak today even as the state assembly discussed climate woes in Kuching.
Thousands of people in interior districts like Marudi and Bakam woke in a panic in the wee hours by flash floods today.
Longhouses and schools near the Miri coastal highway were inundated by waters of up to 0.5m.
It was mainly caused by heavy rain the previous night and before dawn, which led to low-lying areas becoming flooded, the Civil Defence Unit said.
The Rumah Judan longhouse and other settlements along Sungai Dabai in Marudi district saw floods about 0.5m high.
In Bakam subdistrict, SJK Tukau and SMK Agama Miri saw lessons disrupted. Students and teachers were forced to wade through flooded classrooms and compounds to safety.
No evacuations were reported.
In Kuching, the assembly heard Sarawak was suffering the effects of severe climate change.
State Housing, Local Government and Public Health Deputy Minister Datuk Penguang Manggil said this has aggravated flash flood woes in Sarawak, a situation already made worse by siltation of rivers, land erosion, and rising pressure on existing urban and rural drainage systems.
“Sarawak is increasingly suffering the effects of climate change,” he told the assembly.
“Climate change is a global problem and our state has not been spared the impact.
“The flash floods that keep happening in our state have been made worse by climate impact coupled with poor drainage, siltation and erosion.”
Manggil, who is Marudi assemblyman, said his ministry was working to mitigate floods. – The Vibes, November 23, 2023.
