KAPIT (March 21): On the second day of the floods here today, water levels continue to rise, submerging more areas and worsening the situation. The floods, which began in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, have severely affected upper Rejang River areas, including Kapit, Song, Ngemah, Kanowit, and Durin.
Schools, houses, and roads have been inundated, causing significant hardship for flood victims. The extent of the damage has yet to be determined.
Many residents fear water levels would reach record levels. Some have speculated whether the water level might hit 18 meters, the same mark that submerged Fort Sylvia back in December 1983.
A check at the Kapit Express Boat Terminal earlier today indicated that the water level had exceeded the 15-meter danger mark.
This morning, staff were seen moving valuables and antiques from the ground floor of Fort Sylvia to the upper floor in preparation for the worst.
“Normally, floods subside within a few hours, but this time, the water has continued rising since Thursday, and it is still raining,” one of them said.
Schools inundated here were SK Temenggong Koh at Nanga Antawau, SK Sempili, SK Nanga Kain, SK Nanga Kebiaw, SK Nanga Bena, SK Lepong Baleh, SK Nanga Bawai, and SMK Baleh along Sungai Baleh and its tributaries, as well as SK Nanga Antaroh along Sungai Sut, SK Sungai Kapit along Sungai Kapit, SK Nanga Yong in Kapit District.
Affected longhouses were Rumah Soselly Intau in Naga Serenggat, Rumah James in Nanga Sempili, Rumah John Katil in Kerangan Ara, Rumah Panyau in Nanga Kemali and Rumah Umping Limbi in Lepong Baleh.
Some 44 houses in Kampung Muhibbah Bletih and over 20 along Jalan Suhaili were affected by floodwaters, while Rumah John Rabar at Jalan Sesibau is totally cut off from the rising water.
Government quarters along Jalan Airport Lama, Jalan Kubu Lama, Rumah Temuai, and the entrance to the Kapit Police Headquarters at Lorong 7, Jalan Airport, were also submerged.
Motorists from Bukit Goram, Ulu Sungai Selirik, and Bletih were advised to use Jalan Padang Sukan to avoid floodwaters along Jalan Airport Lama. Meanwhile, the access road to the Baleh Hydro Dam at Package A6 near Rumah Abu, Nanga Serian, has completely collapsed due to a massive slope erosion.
Kapit Public Works Department (JKR) engineer Jawa Gara confirmed the collapse, stating that JKR has inspected and barricaded the area.
He urged road users to exercise caution.
Continuous heavy rain since Wednesday evening has caused rivers to overflow, with water levels rising rapidly till today.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
-Agency
