MIRI – The Mulu National Park and its surrounding settlements were inundated by flash floods today, following persistent rain over the past 24 hours, according to a local witness.
At least six villages are currently under more than 1m of floodwaters, which have also damaged nearby farmland, Mulu tour guide Willie Kajan said.
“It rained very heavily over the past day or so, and the flash floods came very swiftly throughout Mulu, hitting parts of the national park, as well as the riverine villages and longhouses in the interior of the park and its outskirts,” Willie told The Vibes when contacted.
“Many longhouses are seeing floods of about 1.5m already. The flood waters are still rising.”
Willie said besides the national park, other areas affected include villages in Long Terawan, Long Panai, Long Ulok, Long Patan, Batu Kala and Long Lenai, as well as longhouses built along Sg Tutoh.
The floodwaters are expected to have damaged crops, especially padi currently being harvested, he said.
“Our farms are all covered by floods, our padi drowned together with our vegetables. We have lost all our crops,” said Willie, who estimates that some 10,000 people would be affected by the floods.
On Sunday, the Malaysian Meteorological Department issued a thunderstorm warning, with heavy rain and strong winds expected in several areas across Sarawak. – The Vibes, March 23, 2022
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