MIRI – Residents of Sarawak’s remote areas have been cut off from the outside world due to the latest round of floods to hit the state.
Rural roads linking villages have seen major damage, with many covered in a thick layer of mud and silt, making them dangerous for use by vehicles.
Native rights group Baram People’s Action Committee today called on state authorities to deploy heavy machinery to aid villagers.
Chairman Philip Jau told The Vibes that the majority of land links connecting parts of Baram and Marudi to Miri have been severed.
Jau, who is from the Long Laput settlement in the upper Baram district, requested that the district office and state Public Works Department conduct checks of the affected roads and clear them of debris.
“For the past five days, our settlements have seen massive flooding.
“The floodwaters at our longhouses have receded, but now, there is a major headache. Longhouse residents cannot leave because the roads leading out to the towns are covered in thick mud.
“Many stretches are covered by up to 1m of mud. Even Land Cruisers and trucks end up getting stuck.”
He said longhouse folk are clearing their homes of flood debris using spades and their bare hands.
“We don’t have the heavy machinery required to clear the roads.”
He urged state authorities to assess the damage caused by the floods.
Among the worst-hit localities are Long Panai, Long Bemang, Long Moh, Long Latip, Long Laput, Long Ekang, Kuala Tutoh, Long Lama and Marudi town.
The flooding, which began on Saturday, has inundated parts of Kapit, Baram and Marudi districts, as well as the subdistricts of Tinjar, Apoh and Tutoh. – The Vibes, September 8, 2021
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