KUCHING: There is slight drop in the number of flood evacuees seeking shelter at relief centres in several parts of the state, which is expected to experience continous downpour until Wednesday.
As of 4pm today, four temporary relief centres have been closed after 258 villagers were allowed to return home after the flood situation at their respective villages were deemed safe by the authorities.
Three of the flood evacuation centres closed today are located here while the other centre is in Bintulu.
State Natural Disaster Management Committee secretariat said a total of 2,382 people were still seeking shelter at 16 flood evacution centres in Kota Samarahan, Serian and Mukah.
“Eight of the centres, which house 1,629 people, are located in Kota Samarahan.
“The relief centres, which are still active in the division, are the Development Hall in Sebuyau, SK Haji Bujang Rangawan Putin, Kampunv Seruyuk Mosque, SK Haji Kelali Semera, Kota Samarahan Civic Centre, Sadong Jaya Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu branch resource centre, SK Kampung Mang and Kampung Segali Community Hall,” said the secretariat.
In the Serian division, the five relief centres that are currently housing 564 people are Betong Kenawit Hall, Lintang Panchor Hall, SK Samarahan Estate, Surau Hadhari in Kampung Rimba Padi dan St Peter Church in Kampung Sok.
The Community Hall in Kampung Kuala Balingin is among three temporarily relocation centres opened for 189 villagers in the Mukah division. The other two flood evacuation centres are SK Parish Balingian and Mukah Civic Centre.
The worsening flood situation also forced the State Education Department to temporarily close 20 schools in the Mukah, Dalat, Serian, Padawan, Kota Samarahan, Selangau and Sibu divisions.
More than 2,500 pupils and 403 academic and non-academic staff at the schools were affected by the closure.
Among the schools closed due to the floods are SK Klid/Plajau, SK St John Medong, SJKC Chin Hua, SK Nanga Selangau, SK Kuala Kenyana, SK Kampung Jebungan, SK Kampung Sau, SK Kampung Teh, SJKC Ek Hua and SK Penakup Ulu.
Also affected by the closure are SK St Dunstan Padawan, SK St Swithun, SK Pengkalan Sarah Serian, SK Sumpas, SK St Teresa Serian, SK Tanah Puteh, SK Sungai Siong Tengah Sibu, SK Chung Hua Semera, SK Kampung Melayu and SK St John Samarahan.
“Some of the schools were closed after roads leading to the area could not be accessed due to being submerged.
“There are also schools closed after the water inundated the academic and non-academic blocks and were not safe for all pupils and teachers,” said the secretariat, adding that SK Haji Bujang Rangawan Putin, SK Mang and SK Haji Kelali Semera were turned into flood evacuation centres.