Uggah (foreground) listens to an explanation on monitoring for potential disasters by an officer from Kuching Barrage. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: The Sarawak Disaster Relief Committee has advised members of the public to be extra cautious in view of the high tide that will hit the coastline next week.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, flooding is a high risk for those in the low-lying areas.
He warned the people that the exceptionally high tide –commonly referred to as ‘King Tide’ –could pound the coastline of the state between Dec 13 and 18.
“According to forecast, the King Tide from Dec 13 to 18 could rise to between 6m and 6.4m.
“As such, I advise those living along the coastline to not take the King Tide lightly, especially if downpour occurs continuously during that period,” he told a press conference after a briefing at Kuching Barrage yesterday.
Uggah, who is also Sarawak Disaster Relief Committee chairman, said the committee had identified several high-risk areas that could experience flooding during Dec 13-18.
The areas in Kuching are Kampung Bako Hulu and Kampung Buntal Hulu, while in Samarahan they are Kampung Tebelu Hulu in Sebuyau, Kampung Tambirat as well as Kampung Manek, Kampung Meranek and Kampung Tungkah Melayu—all in Sebangan.
In Lundu, Kampung Sileng Dayak faces high risk of being flooded and the same goes for Kampung Jalan Pusat Giat Mara, Kampung Baru and Pasar Sebuyau in Simunjan.
Other high-risk areas are Rumah Sambau, Nanga Entulang and Pasar Sri Aman in Sri Aman; Kabong in Saratok; and Kampung Jerijeh, Kampung Rajang and Kampung Belawai in Tanjung Manis.
Uggah said although the Malaysian Meteorological Department could not forecast any occurrence of rain from Dec 13-18, the state should experience the regular monsoon from now till next month.
The deputy chief minister also said the committee—currently with 17,896 members—would all be ready to handle natural disasters during the monsoon season.
Its members comprise those from the Armed Forces (6,700 members), Royal Malaysia Police (2,344 members), Fire and
Rescue Department (1,343 members), the Crisis Management Team under the People’s Volunteer Corps (1,089 members) and the Welfare Department (1,129 members).
Uggah said the Civil Defence Force (APM) would act as the committee’s secretariat, adding that the force would have 5,000 personnel ready for mobilisation in the first hour of a disaster.
In terms of logistics, he said the committee had access to five helicopters, 154 trucks, 358 four-wheel-drive vehicles (4WDs), 226 boats and 50 ambulance units across the state.