MIRI – The water supply disruption in Sarawak’s oil capital of Miri continued into its second day with at least 65,000 homes and hundreds of shops, offices, and schools still without water.
Northern Sarawak Water Supply Board today admitted that repair works are difficult as a main supply pipeline has been badly damaged.
“The pipeline burst (from 2am yesterday) due to ground movement. Repair teams are at the site doing all they can to repair the damaged section,” said its CEO Daniel Punang in a press statement.
“We have deployed water tankers to public collection centres. There are at least 65,000 houses without water now.”
Punang said the board is still probing into what had triggered the earth movement that caused the pipeline to burst.
Those in need of water are to go to specific collection centres where water tankers will be stationed, he said.
The second water supply disruption within a week hit Miri district yesterday, affecting an estimated 300,000 people in the northern Sarawak hub.
Supply was severed to about 80% of the district of 350,000 due to a rupture at a main pipeline during the predawn hours.
The incident happened six days after another, when the water pipeline was damaged due to construction works along the Miri-Bintulu Pan Borneo Highway.
Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting said he had received a deluge of calls from affected residents.
He said the main pipeline into Miri had burst at one of its points, and the water authority severed the supply to carry out urgent repairs.
“Unfortunately, the supply was shut off at around 5am. That left almost everyone unprepared as they had no time to store water,” he said.
“Many woke up to dry taps and could not even prepare themselves properly for work.” – The Vibes, June 17, 2022
