Flash flood at Santubong delays motorists
Posted on December 28, 2011, Wednesday
TEMPORARY SHELTER: A scene at Semariang Batu’s multi-purpose hall where almost 400 evacuees sought shelter on Monday night. — Photo by Saiful Bahari.
KUCHING: Motorists who wanted to travel to Kampung Santubong and Damai had to wait for almost four hours for flash flood to subside at a section of Jalan Sultan Tengah in Santubong.
The flash flood occurred along a 300 metre-long stretch near Kampung Sungai Lumut.
Motorists at Kampung Buntal and Kampung Sungai Jaong were thus cut off from Kuching and vice-versa.
The stretch was also impassable by four wheel drives (4WD), let alone ordinary cars.
According to People’s Vigilante Corp (Rela) Kampung Santubong member Abdul Tahir Latif, the flood started at 4pm on Monday night.
“At first, ordinary cars could pass through. But the flood worsened around 6pm causing hundreds of cars to be stranded by the roadside,” he said.
He pointed out that the flood was at its worst around 9pm and Rela Kampung Santubong joined force with Rela Kampung Buntal to help control traffic in the area.
Tahir predicted that the situation would not be getting any better if the rain does not stop.
Tourists were also seen waiting for the water level to recede at the scene.
One who wished to be identified as Andrew said he has been waiting for hours and was anxious to get to Damai.
Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said he had proposed to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Communication to upgrade the road recently.
Apart from Santubong, flash flood was also experienced by residents in Kampung Tupong Ulu.
On Monday night, a total of 336 people from around Semariang put up at Dewan Semariang Batu.
They were part of the 59 households that sought shelter at the multi-purpose hall after flood water inundated their homes.
<< Previous Entry - Next Entry >>
