MIRI –Torrential incessant rain caused a massive flash flood along the Lawas-Long Sukang trunk road in the interior of northernmost Sarawak, resulting in an elderly villager being tragically swept away by the turbulent waters.
The incident happened in predawn hours today at Sungai Sepakoi, a river located about 50km inland from Lawas town.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said in a statement that the missing villager has been identified as a 63-year-old Silas Sudai.
His body was found late morning today by a search team.
The search and rescue operation has begun along the river very early today. A Bomba unit from Lawas town had arrived at the site with the necessary equipment.
The flash flood began at around 11.30 pm last night.
Silas later went into the flood waters to check on the condition of Jalan Sungai Sepakoi near the river as it is the only link road connecting Lawas town to Long Sukang.
"However, he was taken away by the flood waters,” the statement said.
"Villagers who saw the incident tried to reach out to him to save him but he was swept away.”
Search and rescue personnel combed the river and its banks, leading to his body at about noon.
Meanwhile, in Miri city, fierce winds and heavy rains lashed the city and its outskirts.
At around 2am the Miri Civil Defence Unit began receiving alerts from the public that trees were uprooted along the coastal shores at Tanjong Limbang.
The unit then deployed volunteers to the site to cut the fallen trees that were blocking the highway.
Northern Sarawak is starting to see turbulent weather of late as the inter-monsoon period sets in. – The Vibes, November 9, 2023
