375 residents evacuated after floods hit Batu Niah longhouses

MIRI (Dec 9): A total of 375 residents from two longhouses in Sepupok, Batu Niah was forced to evacuate early Tuesday morning after their homes were inundated following continuous heavy rain since Monday night.

According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba Sarawak) operations centre, the Batu Niah fire station received an emergency call at around 12.30am.

“Acting on the alert, a team of six firefighters was immediately dispatched to the flooded areas at Rumah Aron and Rumah Lumpoh, located about 11 kilometres from the station. They arrived at the scene at 12.42am,” it said in a statement.

It said that the victims were evacuated to their relatives’ homes, adding that no temporary evacuation centre (PPS) had been opened.

“Rumah Lumpoh recorded 119 victims from 27 families, while Rumah Aron had 256 victims from 57 families, consisting of adults, senior citizens and children,” it said.

Meanwhile, Batu Niah fire station chief Rary Binjie, when contacted, said the heavy rain had also caused several roads to be cut off.

Roads connecting several villages in the Sepupok, Semalau and Sebatuk areas were impassable due to overflowing water.

He said the water level of the Niah river had risen significantly following continuous rainfall since Monday afternoon.

“The main road from Niah to Simpang Ngu has been cut off. All vehicles, including heavy vehicles, are unable to pass through this route as of 9.30am,” he said.

However, Rary assured that the flood situation in Batu Niah remains under control.

He added that the station will continue monitoring water levels and advised residents to stay alert and move to safer areas if water levels in their vicinity continue to rise.

In Miri city, Bomba Sarawak in the statement said Miri Sentral fire station carried out flood monitoring patrols in several areas following the heavy rain that lasted for more than 12 hours.

The statement added that checks found that Jalan Lotus in Kampung Luak was among the worst-hit areas, with water levels reaching up to four feet and entering several homes. The area has long been identified as flood-prone.

At Jalan Riam Jaya 1, stagnant water was detected in low-lying sections, though residential areas were not affected.

“Meanwhile, flash floods at Jalan Daro, Taman Tunku have receded, while Kampung Lereng Bukit remains under control but is still categorised as an area at risk of landslides and flash floods,” it added.