Floods strand more than 10,000 people in northern Sarawak

Mr Ngau (third from left) with the flood victims in one of the long houses. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

SARAWAK (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - More than 10,000 people from at least 15 longhouses as well as students from a school in the interior Baram district in northern Sarawak have been cut off due to floods.

Over the past 24 hours, heavy rains have inundated these populated settlements, resulting in metre-deep waters.

Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau visited the flooded areas on Monday to check on the relief aid supplies.

He told The Star that the affected settlements and school had been cut off after the timber roads became flooded.

"At least 10,000 people are affected by the floods," he said.

"Among them are the settlements in Long Bedian, Long Atip, Long Tajang, Long Buan, Long Bemang, Long Loyang, Long Batan, Long Aton, Long Sobeng, SK Long Sobeng, Long Anyat, Long Luteng, Long Puak and Long Lama town."

Mr Ngau added that "the students of SK Long Subeng have been evacuated to the nearest longhouse"

"The school has been closed as flood waters will reach the roof of the school building," he said.

Mr Ngau has issued an alert for help from the state and federal authorities.

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