Sibu Division readies 52 flood evacuation centres — Resident
SIBU: A total of 52 flood evacuation centres have been identified in Sibu division and these can be activated anytime when the need arises.
Sibu Resident Charles Siaw said these evacuation centres are in Sibu ( 25), Selangau (10) and Kanowit (17).
“These evacuation centres are all ready and can be activated anytime (when the need arises).
“The district offices (in the respective areas) have already gone down to the ground to assess the suitability of these centres, including the availability of facilities and whether they were adequate, to be used as evacuation centres,” added Siaw, who is also Sibu Division Disaster Management Committee chairman.
He was speaking to reporters after the closing of a twoday Youth Unity Programme to strengthen harmony and knowledge ( Solidarity Serie2) of the youths held at King Cineplex here on Sunday night. Incorporated in the programme was a motor vehicle maintenance course.
Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee officiated at the closing ceremony.
According to Siaw, details on these centres such as facilities available, persons-in- charge and so on, had all been listed down.
He mentioned that the monitoring of floods in this division is divided into four areas.
“Our new approach is to allow for better monitoring of floods.
“The four government agencies monitoring the flood situation are the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM), the army, Sibu Municipal Council ( SMC) and Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC).
“With this arrangement, some areas will be monitored by APM, while the army will have their own area to cover. SMC and SRDC will also have their own areas to monitor,” Siaw said.
On floods in some stretches of low-lying areas here on Sunday morning, he attributed it to the high tide.
He, however, said there was no cause for concern as the affected areas were under less than one foot of water.
He noted that with the iHYDRO’s website, information on water level could be obtained speedily.
“This will also give us ample warning,” he added.
Siaw said the reading obtained on Sunday showed that the water touched alert level but did not reach dangerous level.
Meanwhile, incessant rain coupled with King Tide triggered flooding along certain stretches of Lanang Road here on Sunday night.