SARIKEI – A continuous downpour that started at midnight here triggered a landslide near Rumah Empenie and Rumah Chuat at Jalan Kimsan, Sg Rusa.
A statement from the Sarikei Fire and Rescue Department said a report on the incident was received at 4.39am.
A team of three firefighters was deployed to the scene.
At the location, firefighters discovered a landslide involving an area 10-m wide and 60-m long had occurred on the hill slope in front of the two longhouses.
“Loose soil had fallen onto the road causing Rumah Chuat to be inaccessible by road.
“The landslide had also caused electricity supply to both longhouses to be cut off,” the statement added.
According to residents of the two longhouses, previously a landslide had also occurred at the same site and the Public Works Department had engaged a contractor to rectify the problem.
The statement added that the retaining wall constructed by the contractor had collapsed last night, causing the landslide to recur.
No evacuation exercise was carried out, but firefighters advised the longhouse residents to be on alert should something happen. – Borneo Post Online, March 1, 2023
