Roads to several longhouses rendered impassable by floods
SARIKEI: Access to several longhouses and primary schools in Bayong and Gerugu area, Ulu Sarikei have been cut off due to floods since early yesterday morning.
District Fire and Rescue Services (Bomba) chief Suna Kaha, who led his men to monitor the situation, said they received a call from a resident of Rumah Tayan in Ulu Sarikei at 2.3am yesterday informing them that the living room (ruai) of their longhouse had been submerged by flood water.
As the low-lying section of the access road to the longhouse at Sungai Sibau was submerged under about four feet of flood water, they could not reach the longhouse, Suna said.
Apart from the 24-unit Rumah Tayan, other longhouses that were rendered inaccessible due to floods were Rumah Nyuka (46 units), Rumah Entayan ( 23), Rumah Padang (22), Rumah Mawas (21), Rumah Mering (14), Rumah Balan (110), Rumah Kol (17), Rumah Berundang ( 6), Rumah Gandum (34) and Rumah Empaling (10).
The low-lying section of the road to SJK Chung Hien was rendered impassable to all vehicles as it was inundated under about six feet of flood water.
A teacher of SJK Chung Hien said the school had been ordered to close for the sake of the pupils’ safety.
The heavy downpour yesterday morning had also caused two schools in the area, SK Balong and SK Asun, to be submerged under flood water, Suna added.
Meanwhile, Repok assemblyman Dato Sri Huang Tiong Sii had set up a team to look into the plight of those affected by the flood.
According to Sarikei District Council chairlady Wong Zee Yeng, acting on Huang’s instruction they had engaged a 10-wheel lorry to transport food to the affected residents.
They also brought along a boat to enable them to reach the affected longhouses, she said.