Floods hit northern Sarawak settlements, inundating longhouses

HEAVY rain has spread into interior northern Sarawak, bringing widespread floods to the Baram and Mulu districts.

Populated settlements like Long Bemang and Long Panai in Baram and Mulu National Park itself have been overwhelmed by floods following unceasing rain over the past few days.

The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department today said its ground teams have deployed patrol boats into flooded zones to check on the safety of villagers.

Affected longhouses have seen floodwaters covering half of their ground floor.

“Residents are moving their belongings to their upper floor.

“We are monitoring the situation daily,” the department said in a press update.

On May 26, Bomba rescue units carried out emergency evacuations in two remote districts of Betong and Skrang in southern Sarawak during the wee hours after populated settlements there were overwhelmed by sudden flash floods due to torrential rain.

Longhouses Rumah Lawing in Betong and Rumah Entalun in Skrang saw floods covering their verandas, triggering the evacuation of dozens of families.

The Betong and Skrang rescue squads entered the flooded zones using boats and rescued the trapped families. – May 29, 2024.