Water released from Bakun Dam, high tide aggravates flooding

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A lower-lying stretch of Ling Kai Cheng Road is washed over by flash flood.

A lower-lying stretch of Ling Kai Cheng Road is washed over by flash flood.

SIBU: The release of water from Bakun Dam spillway had compounded the impact of high tide in a few areas here yesterday.

Divisional engineer of Department of Drainage and Irrigation (DID) Ting Sing Kwong confirmed the water level at Rajang River was higher than normal yesterday.

Meanwhile, the rain since Tuesday night had resulted in low-lying areas such as Salim-Stabau Road and Ling Kai Cheng Road to be flooded, giving rise to heavy vehicular traffic along Brook Drive as motorists avoided the inundated Ling Kai Cheng Road.

Saying that the flooding was generally not serious, Ting advised those staying in low-lying areas to remain vigilant as the king tide period was not yet over.

On Chinese New Year’s Eve, a king tide measuring 1.2 metres struck and compounded by incessant rain, certain portions of the low-lying areas such as Tekam Road were inundated.

In Selangau, water level touched the alert level at 8am yesterday.

Selangau District Officer Christopher Ranggau said two evacuation centres at SK Tong Ah (Selangau) and Skuau community hall were already on standby.

“The water level is receding slowly, thanks to the sunny weather,” Christopher said when contacted yesterday.

On Tuesday, access roads to longhouses by the riverbank were submerged in water, and two schools affected were SK Pelugau and SK Sg Buloh.