KUCHING: Continuous downpour saw 320 victims from 68 families being displaced from their homes and sheltered at five relief centres this morning.
Of the total, Kuching recorded the highest number with 304 victims from 63 families.
A total of 35 victims from seven families have been sheltered at the Surau Ar Rahman relief centre in Kampung Sungai Batu; 125 victims from 20 families in Masjid Darul Mustakin in Kampung Buntal and 121 victims from 31 families in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tabuan Jaya.
In Kota Samarahan, the Sebuyau Development Hall relief centre is sheltering 23 victims from five families and 16 victims from five families were placed at the Kampung Betong Kenawit Hall in Serian.
Sarawak State Disaster Management Committiee (JPBN) Secretariat said all relief centres had been operating since 1.40pm yesterday up till 5.30am today.
“Flood prone areas are being monitored and residents will be asked to move once the flood has reached a dangerous level.
“JPBN hopes the public would move if asked by the authorities because it is a matter of safety,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued a yellow-level warning to the state, today.
Heavy rain is expected in Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Serian Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, SIbu, Selangau and Mukah and is expected to continue until tomorrow.
Monitoring at six Drainage and Irrigation Department telemetry stations found that only one station saw a decline in water level.
The Samarahan Asajaya Water Intake Station in Batu Kitang, Kucing and Mukah Dalat Water Work recorded a rise and Batu Gong Station in Serian and Marudi in Miri did not vary.
Meanwhile, tides as high as 6.1 meters are likely to hit the state’s coastal areas as of 8pm today.