MIRI, Jan 30 — Residents living in landslide-prone areas are advised to evacuate to temporary relief centres if instructed by the authorities, says Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.
The Senadin assemblyman said this is to prevent a recurrence of the recent tragedy in Kampung Lereng Bukit, which claimed five lives.
“Move immediately if you are instructed to relocate to a temporary evacuation centre (PPS). We do not want such incidents to happen again,” he told reporters after visiting the Kampung Lereng Bukit landslide operation control centre here, yesterday.
Lee said besides Kampung Lereng Bukit, other areas at high risk of landslides identified in Miri included Kampung Haji Wahid, Kampung Katong Lopeng and Jalan Woodhouse, which is near his residence.
He said the authorities will patrol the affected areas and that residents will be asked to evacuate immediately if there is any landslide threat.
“All parties must be prepared for possible landslides as continuous rainfall is expected until the end of the month,” said Lee, adding that he had requested the Miri Division Resident to increase the number of temporary evacuation centres if necessary.
In the 2.58am landslide at Kampung Lereng Bukit yesterday, one male and four female victims, aged between 17 and 71, lost their lives.
The victims were from two families living next to each other on the same plot of land in the village.
Seven other victims — two males and five females aged between 14 and 60 — survived the incident.
Meanwhile, the number of flood victims in Sarawak almost doubled as of 8am today, with 5,385 people from 1,505 families seeking shelter at PPS compared to 2,981 people from 862 families last night.
Based on the latest report from the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, Bintulu has the highest number of flood victims, with 1,481 people from 396 families placed in six centres, followed by Serian with 1,442 people from 446 families in 15 centres.
The number of affected districts also increased from 12 as of 8pm yesterday to 14 today, with the number of centres activated rising from 36 to 47.
— Bernama
