High tides flood more homes in Sarawak
The number of flood evacuees in relief centres has increased to more than 5,000 as of this morning.
KUCHING: Massive high tides late yesterday evening and early today have caused floods in several places within the Kuching, Bau and Serian districts, forcing more people out of their flooded homes.
Sarawak Department of Civil Defence public relations officer Siti Huzaimah Ibrahim said the number of evacuees at relief centres in these districts had shot up to 5,578 as of 8am today from 3,230 last night.
She said the evacuees were being accommodated at 21 centres in Kuching, five in Bau and two in Serian.
She said the water level of Sungai Sarawak has receded this morning, but floodwaters in the affected areas remained stagnant for now.
Yesterday’s evacuees near Kuching City came from Batu Kitang, Kampung Bintawa, Kampung Panglima Seman, Batu Kawa, Tupong Jaya and Kampung Pulo.
Although intermittent rain in many areas of Sarawak seemed to have eased off, the high tide was the reason floodwaters receded slowly.
Relevant agencies such as the Department of Civil Defence, Fire and Rescue Service, the police, People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), Social Welfare Department, Health Department, Resident’s Office and Sarawak National Security Council have all been on standby for the past several days.
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– BERNAMA