Disaster committees across S’wak activated
KUCHING: Disaster management committees all over Sarawak have been activated to face any eventuality during the monsoon season this year, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
According to him, the flood season in the state usually occurs from the end of January until February.
“Now we are facing the floods. l hope those staying in any flood-prone areas would heed any evacuation advice for their own safety.
“So far we have not received any report of them refusing or reluctant to be evacuated,” he said after visiting the flood victims at the temporary evacuation centres (PPS) at Dewan Millenia and Dewan Perpaduan in Debak, near Saratok, yesterday.
Uggah, also the Sarawak Disaster Management
Committee (SDMC) chairman, said four temporary evacuation centress had been opened so far in Sarawak.
He said he had also told the state Health Department to closely monitor the health of all those taking shelter at the evacuation centres, especially for Covid-19 symptoms, adding that those who developed fever should be screened immediately.
“We certainly would not want them to suffer another setback to add to their woes,” he said.
As at 6pm, Dewan Millennia was housing 141 people from 39 families, and Dewan Perpaduan, 223 people from 71 families.
The victims are from Kampung Babu, Kampung Bungey and Kampung Lalang in Debak.
On the flood problem in Debak, Uggah hoped that it would be a thing of the past once the flood mitigation project had completed.
“It is now nine per cent done. We will talk to the Drainage and Irrigation Department to speed up the works, since it had kicked off after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Uggah was accompanied by Betong MP Dr Richard Rapu and Saribas assemblymen Datuk Mohd Razi Sitam during the visit.
They also visited SK St John to check on bank erosion, occurring close to its boarding houses.
More than 20 boarders have moved to buildings on higher ground of the school, which is located at the Layar River.
Uggah said he had directed the Public Works Department (JKR) to come up with an estimate to construct an embankment wall as soon as possible.
Later Uggah, accompanied by Dr Richard and Betong Divisional JKR engineer Jason Ng, visited the Ulu Layar Road to check on the situation there, where a major landslide had affected the stretch of road in front of the Nanga Mutok longhouse.