KUCHING: A total of 2,320 victims from 624 families are taking shelter at 20 relief centres in the state, after floods inundated their homes following continuous downpour over the past four days.
The victims are from Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Serian, Bintulu and Mukah.
Kota Samarahan recorded the highest number of evacuees at 1,154 people from 304 families, who have been housed at eight relief centres. They hail from flooded parts of Kampung Baru Sebuyau, Kampung Rangawan, Kampung Seruyu, Kampung Segali, Kampung Tanjung Bundong Lot, Kampung Sadong Jaya Ulu, Kampung Mang Lot and Kampung Ulu Semera.
The evacuees are currently at the Sebuyau Development Hall (124), SK Haji Bujang Rangawan Putin (321), Kampung Seruyuk Mosque (80), Kampung Segali Community Hall (135), Suarah Kota Samarahan Hall (35), Sadong Jaya UN Resource Centre (163), SK Kampung Mang (114) and SK Haji Kelali Semera (182).
In Kuching, 36 flood victims are at a relief centre in Kampung Sungai Batu Surau Ar Rahman, 76 are at Darul Muttaqin Kampung Buntal Mosque, and 134 are at SMK Tabuan Jaya.
Kuching’s flooded areas are Kampung Sungai Batu, Kampung Buntal Lot and Kampung Sungai Laru Tabuan Jaya.
In Serian Division, five relief centres are currently housing flood evacuees. They are Betong Kenawit Hall (16), Lintang Baru Panchor Hall (205), SK Samarahan (175), Surau Hadhari Kampung Rimba Padi (91) and St Peter's church (75).
Inundated areas in Serian are Kampung Betong Kenawit, Kampung Lintang Baru Panchor, Kampung Siniawan, Kampung Rimba Padi and Kampung Soh.
Three relief centres operating in Mukah, meanwhile, are SK Parish Balingian (with 104 evacuees), Suarah Mesra Mukah Hall (3) and Kampung Kuala Balingian Community Hall (80).
The victims are from SOP Ladang, Kampung Mateding and Rumah Merling.
In Bintulu, the Bintulu Suarah Hall is currently accommodating 177 victims from Sungai Plan and Sungai Sebatang Batu Lima.
Meanwhile, a total of 940 students from six schools in the state are unable to attend classes today due to the worsening flood.
The Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat said that a continuous downpour caused schools in three districts to be inundated by floodwaters.
“Continuous downpour for the past few days has caused the water level to rise, reaching almost two metres.
“The situation is quite alarming for students and teachers. It is best to ensure their safety by closing the schools and sending students living in hostels back home,” he said.
Schools forced to close in Dalat are SK Klid/Plajau with 59 students; SK St John Kampung Medong (259) and SJKC Chin Hua (175).
In Selangau, SK Nanga Selangau with 337 students, SK Kuala Kenyang in Mukah (35) and SK Tanjung Pisang Selangking in Simunjan (75) were forced to close.
Meanwhile, four schools have been turned into flood relief centres, namely SMK Tabuan Jaya, SK Hajib Bujang Rangawan Putin, SK Mang and SK Haji Kelali Semera.
2pm UPDATE:
Worsening floods in the state are forcing more people from their homes, with the Meteorological Department raising the yellow alert (heavy rain advisory) for several parts of Sarawak.
The state Natural Disaster Management Committee secretariat said that the number of evacuees at 20 relief centres state-wide increased by 290 people to 2,640 as of this afternoon.
In a statement, the secretariat said four of the centres registered an increase in evacuees, namely Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Haji Bujang Rangawan Putin in Kota Samarahan (446 people); Kampung Seruyuk Mosque (325); SK Haji Kelali Semera (184); and Bintulu Civic Centre (180).
However, two centres recorded a drop in the number of flood evacuees.
Victims at Kampung Segali Community Hall fell to 35 people after 100 villagers were allowed to return home.
Also, eight villagers at Darul Muttaqin Mosque in Kampung Buntal were allowed to return home, leaving 62 people at the relief centre.
The number of flood evacuees at 14 other relief centres remains unchanged.