AUTHORITIES in Sarawak have issued early warnings to settlements in low-lying areas of Sg Baram to brace for evacuation as the river’s water level is reported to be rising.

More than 4,000 residents living along the second longest river in the state have been warned by their local disaster management office to be on the alert as rising floodwaters are threatening eight areas in the Telang Usan district.

At 11am today, the six medical personnel at the Long Bemang health clinic in Apoh Tutoh, whose surrounding areas are already under 1m of water, have been told to prepare to move if floodwaters reach the danger level.

A similar warning has also been issued to residents of the 30-door longhouse at Long Buang, which has a population of 86 people, Long Bayok (1,200 people), Long Ikang (578), Uma Akeh (296), Long Puak (200), Long Laput (1,750) and Long Wat (160).

In the neighbouring Marudi district, floodwaters are reported to have stopped rising although the threat of more rain continues.

One primary school, SK Long Lenei, 14 longhouses and villages, including in Marudi town, are still flooded, with water levels at between 0.5m and 1m.

No evacuations have taken place in Baram.

Along the country’s longest river, Sg Rajang, two towns, Kapit and Song, still have 128 in evacuation centres following heavy rain since Sunday.

Eighty-four people from one longhouse and two villages in Kapit, are still housed at the Kapit indoor stadium as of this morning.

Another 44 people from 14 families from Rumah Kulleh in the small town of Song, some 43km from Kapit, are still at the SK Nanga Embuau, which has been turned into a temporary shelter.

They are expected to return home as soon as floods begin to recede by 1m.

Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah, who chairs the state disaster management committee, visited the Kapit stadium this morning.

Further down the river, low-lying areas of Sibu town that experienced flooding at high tide, are still reported to be under water. – September 16, 2020.