Flash flood inundating low-lying areas in Sibu

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BE SAFE: Low-lying areas like Rambutan Lane hit by flash flood.

SIBU: Flash flood has hit low-lying areas after days of heavy downpour, prompting the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to be on the alert as the King Tide approaches.

DID Divisional engineer Ting Sing Kwong said the King Tide would be here tomorrow, and the water level was expected to be high again after the one earlier this month.

He said the last King Tide measured four metres and this time, it would be 3.8 metres.

“There is a possibility of a flood if the rain continues to pour. I call on residents in the low lying areas to be on the alert,” he said.

Ting added that although it had been raining, it had not been heavy enough to cause floods.

He said the rising water in the low lying areas now was caused by their bottle-neck water outlets, where the rain water could not be flushed out fast enough.

The divisional engineer admitted there was a problem at the drains at Chew Sik Hiong commercial area and he had informed Sibu Municipal Council about it.

He said his department had been monitoring the water level at the flood gate near the market.

He said the next King Tide starting tomorrow would stay for about 10 days.

He said the tide would subside to about 3.3 metres on Jan 9.

The Meteorological Department forecasts strong winds and rough seas up to Tuesday.