MIRI: Mitigation works, including improvement of the drainage system at Canada Hill and Kampung Lereng Bukit, has kept erosion at bay despite unrelenting rain in Miri since Thursday evening.Canada Hill has a history of landslides including last year which reduced a petrol station to rubble, killing two of its workers.
The incident at Kampung Lereng Bukit meanwhile destroyed eight houses.
A spokesman from Miri Resident Office when contacted yesterday said the Natural Disaster Operation Room is already in operation during office hours and will extend its operating hours should there be major flood or landslides.
“So far there has been no report on floods, including from Bekenu and Niah.
“Most of the drainage system in flood prone areas in the city have improved including at Canada Hill and Taman Tunku, under the recent stimulus package,” he said.
He added that the improved mitigation system plays an important role in ensuring no major flood in the city as well as reducing the risk of landslide, particularly in high risk areas.
Meanwhile, Limbang Resident Maria Hasman, when contacted to comment on the issue, said the Natural Disaster Operation Rooms for Trusan, Lawas and Nanga Mendamit have been operational since reports on the bad weather were received several days ago.
“We have been on standby since told that it was going to be raining continuously this week.
“Even our staff are trained to read weather forecast so they too can be alert to weather changes and what to expect,” he said when contacted by the Borneo Post yesterday.
According to him, the team is relying on weather reports from the Meteorology Department.
“We are also checking out weather forecast reports by a Brunei weather website which has so far been quite accurate, as our location is very close to Brunei.
“Apart from that, our staff from Trusan operation room are communicating regularly with Nanga Mendamit operation room every couple of hours to get the latest updates,” he said.
He added that so far no flood reports have been received and staff of Trusan and Nanga Mendamit operation rooms are monitoring the situation closely.
Those in Limbang and Lawas areas who wish to report any flood or enquire about the flood situation in their respective areas can contact the operation room at 085-211744.