Banjir/Flood

The worst’s not over yet

by Philip Kiew. Posted on January 20, 2011, Thursday

Dark skies continue to threaten much of Miri as authorities fly in aid to flood victims

THERE YOU GO: Jabu hands out relief assistance, which was airlifted by Hornbill Skyways helicopters to Ulu Niah, to folks of Rumah Rangong

BATU NIAH: Relief assistance was flown to flood hit areas in Niah, Tinjar, and the Tutoh-Apoh region as flood waters receded yesterday.

But, at press time, the gloomy-looking sky looked set to unleash another round of heavy rain.

Flood waters in Ulu Teru and Ulu Tinjar in Marudi district and Ulu Niah in Niah sub-district started receding yesterday.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, accompanied by Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Stephen Rundi and Miri Resident Antonio Kathi Galis, yesterday flew into Miri Division for the second consecutive day to spearhead the delivery of assistance to the flood victims.

Among the food supplies distributed yesterday were baby powder to 69-door Rumah Rangong and 63-door Rumah Belilie which were the worst affected in Ulu Niah.

As the roads were still impassable, the assistance was flown in by Nuri helicopters and those from Hornbill Skyways.

Longhouse residents in Rumah Rangong told Jabu that the flood waters rose so rapidly on Monday night that they were literally caught with their pants down.

They were torn between saving their properties, salvaging their livestock and moving their vehicles to higher grounds.

A lorry ferrying food to an oil palm estate was found submerged right to its rooftop, while vehicles parked at a bridge at Sungai Sepiki were deep under the flood waters.

“This is the worst in history, with water rising to a foot above the floor. It was so bad that I have to put my nine pigs in the ‘sadau’ (attic) for a night,” said Siba Ngelambong, 55, of Rumah Rangong.

The attempt by Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and his entourage to send supplies on Tuesday was thwarted by the swift flowing water across the flooded sections of Ulu Niah road, prompting a call to the Royal Malaysian Air Force to assist yesterday.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Sylvester Entri Muran said the flood situation in the Tinjar basin was still bad although the water level had receded by about half a metre in Long Loyang and some longhouses in Ulu Tinjar.

He flew by helicopter yesterday with Telang Usan state assemblyman Lihan Jok for the second day to visit flood-hit areas in Tinjar and Tutoh-Apoh.

They managed to visit Ulu Teru and Long Bemang before bad weather forced them to abort their journey to Long Teran and return to Miri.

“I worry for those people in Sungai Tinjar. Although flood has started receding in the upper reaches, the heavy overcast sky yesterday evening might mean the flood waters could return,” he told The Borneo Post.

Entri said he would try to visit them by boat today after stopping by Bakong and Marudi.

sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=88528