Be prepared for the flood, people told

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The flood at Ling Kai Cheng Road at daybreak yesterday. It was raining heavily when the photograph was taken.

The flood at Ling Kai Cheng Road at daybreak yesterday. It was raining heavily when the photograph was taken.

SIBU: The divisional engineer of Department of Drainage and Irrigation Ting Sing Kwong calls on the townsfolk to be prepared for possible floods in the next two days as heavy rain continues to pound the whole of Rajang Basin since Monday night.

He said heavy rain was recorded in most parts of the region from Belaga to Kapit, Song and Kanowit. Here the rain had been heavy in Ulu Sungai Merah, Sibu Airport and Salim.

He said the heavy rain coupled with the current King tide could trigger flood.

“Although the water level in rivers has not breached the flood alert level, residents need to watch out because of the King tide.”

Ling Kai Cheng Road and Stabau Road were flooded yesterday morning because of heavy rain in Ulu Sungai Merah and Salim since Monday night, he added.

Ling Kai Cheng Road was still passable by cars, but, for road users in Stabau, they were not as fortunate; the water level there was knee and waist-deep respectively.

He said traffic had been cut at Stabau Road.

Ting said other low lying areas from Tiong Hua Road to Lower Lanang Road were flooded too.

“We have the flood gates and pumps in these areas. The gates have closed and the pumps are drawing water out.”

But he said both pump stations next to Kingwood Hotel and Sibu Central Market could not keep up with the rising rain water, “because flood levees have not been built and the river water has got in”.

Despite the rising water, Ting confirmed that Upper Lanang Road was dry.

He said the flood mitigation project there had been completed and the bund was keeping the river water out.

Ting said from midnight Monday to Tuesday morning, the rain in Belaga was recorded at 88.5mm, Sibu Airport (65.5mm), Sungai Salim (42.5mm), Sibu Express Boat Terminal (22mm) and Ulu Sungai Merah (78mm).

The rainfall in middle and upper Mukah River from Monday midnight to yesterday morning was between 53 and 57.5mm.