MIRI – A remote longhouse occupied by about 200 residents, located in Kapit district in central Sarawak, is on the verge of caving into an adjacent river, following the continuous erosion of the riverbank’s slopes.
Villagers residing in Rumah Jantai, located deep in the Baleh constituency, are already seeing the front portion of their longhouse compound washed away by strong currents.
Residents reported the incident to the Kapit Fire and Rescue Department. The department has confirmed receiving the report.
Sarawak’s information agency also confirmed the case today.
“Rumah Jantai is affected by soil erosion caused by collapsing riverbanks situated in front of the longhouse.
“The longhouse is built along the slopes of the riverbanks,” the State Public Communications Unit said in an update.
“The Fire and Rescue Department teams from Kapit have arrived at the site,” the unit added.
The department, said the unit, has set up barriers along the eroded area and urged residents to be on alert for further erosion.
“In the meantime, personnel from the Public Works Department will look into the situation,” it added.
River currents in the area are so strong that a bridge linking the longhouse to the other side of the river has disintegrated.
Harry Wing, an activist in central Sarawak, told The Vibes that Rumah Jantai is about three hours away by boat from Kapit.
“The river water volume has risen in many interior tributaries due to rainfall.
“That is why some of these very remote rivers are seeing powerful currents,” he said.
The Meteorological Department has issued warnings on possible heavy rain in parts of Sarawak from December 28 onwards. – The Vibes, December 24, 2021
