MIRI – At least 1,000 longhouse residents in Sarawak’s interior Baram district have been hit with flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall.
Baram People’s Action Committee chairman Philip Jau told The Vibes that Long Bemang and Long Wat are the worst-affected areas.
“The floodwaters in Long Bemang and Long Wat have entered the longhouses.
“In my own longhouse in Long Laput, there is overflowing water from the river.
“The rain is heavy. It has been raining like this since yesterday.”
Located some 400km from here, Long Bemang and Long Wat have about 700 and 400 residents, respectively.
Jau said no evacuations have been made, with most villagers moving their belongings to the upper floor of their two-storey longhouses.
“Those living in individual homes have also moved to their farm huts on the hill slopes.”
A check with the Fire and Rescue Department found that no emergency evacuations have been carried out.
The Star reported that the Environment and Water Ministry said thunderstorms and downpours are expected in the evenings and nights in the peninsula’s west coast states, as well as most areas of Sabah and Sarawak, until tomorrow due to the ongoing weak phase, or monsoon break, of the southwest monsoon.
The southwest monsoon has strong (active) and weak (less active) phases, and is expected to persist into mid-September.
During the active phase, south-westerly winds blow consistently and conditions are relatively dry. – The Vibes, August 25, 2021
