MIRI – More flood relief centres are being set up in the interiors of northern Sarawak to house flood evacuees.
As at noon today, three flood relief centres began operating in the towns of Lawas, Limbang, and Long Lama in Baram district.
The State Disaster Management Committee said that in Limbang district, the community halls at Kg Medamit, Kg Ukong, Kg Baloi and Kg Bidang have been converted into temporary shelters, while in Lawas town, the Kg Trusan hall and SK Sundar hall will house flood victims in Lawas district.
In Baram district, the Long Lama community centre, Masjid Long Lama hall, and SK Chung Hwa hall will be converted into flood relief centres.
About 500 people in these three districts have been evacuated so far.
Ground teams from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Defence Unit are still in the numerous flooded localities evacuating stranded villagers.
The state authorities are facing problems trying to communicate with and reach the thousands of flood victims throughout the interior of Sarawak.
Land links to remote areas have been cut off for the past three days.
Telang Usan state assemblyman Dennis Ngau said he was shocked by the severity of the floods and the extensiveness of the devastation.
“Land routes into my constituency have been cut off as the roads are inundated by floods of more than a metre high. I am having problems entering my constituency,” he said.
Ngau, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu chief for Baram, said he had heard of bridges being swept away in his constituency.
“What is most important now is to try to find routes to reach the flood victims. We urgently have to see the condition of their settlements and arrange aid for them,” he said.
Mulu state assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala has arranged flights on MasWing aircrafts to fly in food aid for those living in Mulu villages.
The floods have also hit about 5,000 natives in the mountainous highlands of Bario and Ba’kelalan.
Hundreds of acres of farmland have been inundated throughout Ba’kelalan’s villages, besides schools, clinics, and housing settlements in several districts..
Progressive Democratic Party secretary-general Datuk Nelson Balang Rining told The Vibes that the situation on ground was extremely bad.
Balang, a native of Ba’kelalan, said thousands of people in his area have been cut off from the outside world.
“Timber roads have turned into rivers. Housing settlements and huge areas of farmland are drowned in waters of about one to two metres.
“The flooding is massive, one of the worst in living memory,” he said.
Balang said party members are trying to get details of all flooded settlements to find out the number of people affected by the floods.
“The rain was extremely heavy over the past few days. The rivers rose very fast too, and the volume of rain and overflowing river waters made the floods so severe,” he said.
In Baram district, the worst-hit longhouses are Long Panai, Long Lellang, Long Akar, Long Napir, Long Laput, Long Miri, Long Iman, Long Luteng, Long Atip, and Long Moh.
Those living in these longhouses have moved to higher ground on the nearby hills.
Among the schools inundated in Baram include SK Long Moh, SK Long Atip, SK Long Luteng, and SK Long Lellang.
Over in Mulu district, Kg Melinau, Kg Batu Bungan, SK Batu Bungan, Mulu Clinic and its vicinity were all inundated.
As at noon today, there have been no reports of fatalities or serious injuries caused by the floods. – The Vibes, May 23, 2021
