MIRI – Sarawak is preparing the necessary facilities to accommodate over 188,000 people in the event of a flood.
State Welfare Department director Noriah Ahmad said this is the estimated number of victims if the coming monsoon season unleashes its full force on the state.
The Sarawak Public Communications Unit, in its update yesterday, quoted Noriah as saying that 631 evacuation centres are being readied statewide.
She was accompanying state secretary Datuk Jaul Samion on a visit to the centres in the Kuching division.
He has directed the state’s Disaster Management Committee to be on full alert for floods.
Jaul has also taken over as committee chairman from Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas.
Noriah said all the evacuation centres will be managed in full compliance with the Covid-19 prevention standard operating procedures.
“There will be 155 evacuation centres in the Kuching division, 95 in Miri, 59 in Sri Aman, 50 in Samarahan, 40 in Sibu, 43 in Serian, 56 in Mukah, 34 in Betong, 31 in Sarikei, 28 in Kapit, 27 in Bintulu, and 25 in Limbang.
“They can accommodate 188,360 flood victims.”
The centres – located in school assembly halls, community halls and public activity hubs – will have facilities for preparing food supplies and adequate space for tents, bathrooms and toilets.
This comes after the devastating floods in the peninsula earlier this month. – The Vibes, December 29, 2021
