Pupils of SK Temenggong Koh wade through the flood to higher ground under the watchful eyes of their teachers.
KAPIT: At least three primary schools along Baleh River were affected by flash flood on Monday and Tuesday.
They are SK Nanga Kain, Sungai Kain, SK Nanga Semplili and SK Temenggong Koh, Nanga Antawau.
Although some classrooms, hostels, teachers’ quarters, walkways and sports fields were under one or two metres of water, the flood quickly receded a few hours later.
As in the case of SK Nanga Kain, the flash flood occurred on Monday evening but before dawn water in the classroom block nearest to Sungai Kain had receded. However, the school field remained inundated that created a big pool.
At SK Nanga Semplili, water from Baleh River overflowed to several school buildings on Monday and by Tuesday the flood had gone.
And at around 11am on Monday, SK Temenggong Koh’s teachers’ quarters, multipurpose hall, kitchen and dining hall, among others, were under one metre of water. However, by Tuesday morning, the water level had subsided, leaving the school free of flood water.
Kapit District Disaster Management Committee chairman Elvis Didit, who is also the district officer, upon receiving information made a visit to the schools and affected longhouses on Tuesday morning to see the situation and assess damage.
Accompanying Elvis were administrative officer Karon Mapus, fire and rescue officer Erwandy Tugor, Social Welfare Department assistant director Peter Gabong and personnel from other departments.
Meanwhile, officers from the education office here led by Ajim Anyie and several sectional heads also travelled to the schools to assess the situation.
However, headmasters and teachers in the affected schools told them there were no untoward incidents, but they would remain alert.
They also told the visitors that they immediately organised a ‘gotong royong’ to clean up the schools after the floods had receded, and classes were not disrupted.
Elvis also highlighted some of the shortcomings in the schools, which he said should be brought up to the attention of the relevant authorities.