MIRI – Hillslope erosion due to heavy rains during the past few days caused the collapse of a major trunk road in the Serian district in southern Sarawak.
About 1,000 village folks are cut off from the outside world after the Serian-Kg Mawang Taup road gave way.
Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot said the road collapsed after the soil underneath it gave way due to hillslope erosions on both sides.
“Luckily, there was no one passing that section of the road when the incident happened,” he said in his latest updates to his constituents via social media.
“The road collapsed into a deep ravine, totally cutting off one side from the other.
“Local villagers said the incident happened yesterday afternoon.”
Riot said that the Public Works Department will today carry out urgent remedial works at the affected site.
The collapsed section is about 200m long, and no vehicles can pass through now from either direction. The village has a population of about 1,000 people.
Sarawak is experiencing heavy rains and floods.
Serian district has seen about 100 people inundated by floods in several villages since last week and they were evacuated to temporary shelters in community halls. – The Vibes, February 8, 2021
