Bomba personnel assist a motorist whose car became stranded in the flood at a roundabout in Jalan Sibu, Taman Tunku.
The inundated PLKN camp in Sungai Rait. It is not the first time the camp – located beside Sungai Rait – has been affected by flood.
MIRI: Several low-lying areas in the city were hit by flash floods yesterday following overnight torrential rain which lasted over 12 hours.
Flooding struck the PLKN camp in Sungai Rait in Bakam as well as Kampung Tukau, Kampung Raan, Kampung Bakam and SMK Agama Miri, Taman Tunku (Jalan Daro, Jalan Durin, Jalan Sibu, SK Temenggong Datuk Muip), Pujut Padang Kerbau, Kampung Lepong Ajai and Liam near Bakong, and several others.
Similarly affected were hundreds of road users who were forced to use the coastal road after the Miri-Bekenu old road, especially near Lambir National Park, became inundated.
Battalion 8 Border Regiment personnel stationed at the PLKN camp in Sungai Rait, Bakam monitor the flood situation.
Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) zone chief Law Poh Kiong said his men were kept busy since early in the morning, responding to road users trapped in the flood and also helping affected residents move their belongings to higher ground.
“Kampung Bakam was badly affected as the flood inundated a total of 10 homes – affecting 57 residents – and also damaged cars.
“We had to evacuate three residents to higher ground, while others sought refuge at their relatives’ homes which had not been affected,” he said.
Law further disclosed that SK Lepong Ajai in Bakong was closed yesterday after floodwaters rose to about 1.5 metres, while a landslide was reported to have occurred along Mile 6 of the Miri-Bintulu road.
As of 10am yesterday, the water level at several places, including Taman Tunku, started receding.
The water level in Lambir was also reported to have receded around noon, which was around the same time when the rain stopped.
The 12-hour downpour was the first heavy rain fall recorded here after months of dry weather.
Meanwhile, Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni when contacted said he believes the flooding in areas such as Taman Tunku is due to the inadequate drainage system.
He said flood mitigation project implemented in Taman Tunku, with an initial allocation of RM1.5 million, was still inadequate to deal with the situation.
“Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat and I will work with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to overcome the flood problem through an allocation of RM10 million for flood mitigation projects at Taman Tunku and Tukau areas, as well as deepening of Sungai Rait which had been approved by the state government recently,” he explained.
The water level rose to about three feet in several areas in Taman Tunku yesterday.
A motorcyclist chooses to brave the flood near Sungai Dalam No 3 bridge in Taman Tunku, despite the obvious risk involved as what happened to the car behind him.
Several residents of Kampung Bakam being evacuated in a boat by Bomba personnel.
Motorists and a Kuching-bound bus had to turn back from Lambir after the road became impassable due to flooding.