Thousands of flood victims evacuated in Sarawak

Heavy rains have brought floods to several districts in the state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. But Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem said yesterday the situation is under control and the rain is expected to ease off.
Heavy rains have brought floods to several districts in the state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. But Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem said yesterday the situation is under control and the rain is expected to ease off. PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY
A trader closing their shop during high water level around Kuching Waterfront and Jalan Gambir. PHOTO: STAR MEDIA GROUP/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
A trader closing their shop during high water level around Kuching Waterfront and Jalan Gambir. PHOTO: STAR MEDIA GROUP/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
The famous square tower was flooded. PHOTO: STAR MEDIA GROUP/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Norhidayah Sidup helping her mther Hamimah Seman cleaning their house after flood late evening yesterday. PHOTO: STAR MEDIA GROUP/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Some 700 flood victims at Kuching Civil Center from Kampung Kudei Kuching. PHOTO: STAR MEDIA GROUP/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
People walk at a flooded road as a resident of Kampung Gita (centre) rides a motorcycle in Kuching, Sarawak, on Feb 10, 2016. PHOTO: EPA
Residents of Kampung Gita transport their furniture on the back of a truck during floods in Kuching, Sarawak, on Feb 10, 2016. PHOTO: EPA
Residents of Kampung Bitawa at a flooded road in Kuching, Sarawak, on Feb 10, 2016. PHOTO: EPA

KUCHING • More than 5,600 people have been evacuated after heavy rains brought floods to several districts in the state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem said yesterday the situation is under control and the rain is expected to ease off.

Floods hit several places in the Kuching, Bau and Serian districts over the past few days due to the rains and the high tide, reported Bernama news agency.

State Civil Defence Department public relations officer Siti Huzaimah Ibrahim said the flood victims have been moved to relief centres.

There were 14 centres in Kuching and five in Bau, according to The Star newspaper.

Although the weather was expected to improve, Deputy State Secretary Misnu Taha warned the public that water levels could rise again during high tide. He advised residents in low-lying areas to be on alert.

Over in Peninsular Malaysia, the flood situation continued to improve in Malacca, with just over 100 flood victims remaining at relief centres as of yesterday.

In Pulau Redang, off the eastern state of Terengganu, some 100 holidaymakers were stranded from Sunday after boat services to the mainland were suspended due to rough sea conditions.

Sixty of them managed to arrive safely on the mainland on Tuesday evening, leaving 40 behind on the island.

Boat services were suspended due to huge waves, strong winds and rough seas.

Meanwhile in Indonesia, at least 5,000 people were forced to flee their homes after a torrential downpour caused the Kali Lamong river in Gresik district in East Java to breach its banks.

Incessant rains since Monday have left more than 2,000 homes there in waters up to a metre deep and triggered floods that swept away three levees, prompting residents to evacuate to higher ground, Jakarta Globe news site reported.

Hundreds of hectares of farmlands were affected.

Mr Hary Tirto Djatmiko, head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency's information division, said more heavy rains are expected in the coming days in East and Central Java, as well as in eastern Aceh province.

In 2013, extensive flooding triggered by heavy rains in Jakarta left 32 people dead and forced nearly 46,000 to leave their homes.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 11, 2016, with the headline Thousands of flood victims evacuated in Sarawak. Subscribe