MIRI – The evacuation of flood victims in northern Sarawak’s interior districts of Telang Usan and Marudi are in full swing.
Two flood relief shelters have been opened, one each in Long Lama and Marudi.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department and state Disaster Management Committee said that dozens of families have been evacuated from flooded homes in numerous villages as at noon today.
The Marudi office reported in its latest update that among those evacuated were children and babies.
Aerial photos taken by residents using a drone showed Long Lama inundated by floodwaters.
The Baram River and its tributaries have seen water overflowing their banks by more than 2m, areas nearby.
Long Lama town is the administrative centre and business hub for the Telang Usan district.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau visited the flooded town today.
“The facilities at the evacuation centre in Long Lama (hall at a mosque that is on higher ground) needs to be improved and expanded to accommodate more flood victims,” he said.
“The flood situation is bad.”
Long Lama and its surrounding villages have a population of about 30,000 people.
The weather in northern Sarawak has been deteriorating since three days ago, with torrential rain bashing the interior regions day and night. – The Vibes, September 5, 2021
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