Flood evacuees rise to 97, more rain expected today

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Firefighters assist drivers through an inundated section of the road leading to Lundu.

KUCHING: The number of flood victims here and in Lundu increased to 97 people as of 8pm yesterday, from 50 recorded on Saturday night.

The State Disaster Management Committee secretariat in a statement said 24 families are currently seeking shelter at three temporary relief centres.

It mentioned Kampung Paon Community Hall in Sematan, Lundu as the latest relief centre to be opened, housing 42 victims from 11 families.

“Incessant rain has caused low-lying areas to be inundated and rivers to overflow to nearby houses. As of 8am today (Sunday), some houses were already inundated by one to two feet of water,” said the statement.

Among the affected villages in Lundu are Kampung Sebat Dayak, Kampung Sebat Melayu, Kampung Temaga Dayak, Kampung Temaga Melayu, Kampung Sebat Baru, Kampung Sebako, Kampung Judin and Kampung Serayan Cina.

Water level at the affected villages remained high yesterday, with rain expected to continue until at least today (Jan 21).

Meanwhile, the number of victims at the two relief centres in Kuching remained the same as of 4pm yesterday – 23 persons from four families at Surau Ar-Rahman in Kampung Sungai Batu, and 32 from nine families at Dewan Sinaran Kampung Lumut.