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TORRENTIAL rains that have spread to interior central Sarawak caused numerous hillslope erosions in the two districts of Song and Betong, and a bridge to collapse in Kapit district.
Ground personnel from the state Fire and Rescue Department in the three districts have received emergency alerts from affected longhouse folk who are badly affected by these weather woes.
In Kapit, the Nanga Tisa bridge linking numerous settlements across the Sg Yong river had collapsed.
The foundation of the bridge gave way due to erosion and the structure is totally wrecked, severing the land links from both sides.
Rescue teams at the site said heavy rain since Monday had caused the incident.
No one was at the bridge when the structure collapsed.
The state public works authorities have been notified.
Over in Betong district, hillslope failures brought down tonnes of earth onto the compounds of two longhouses called Nanga Tiga and Tanjung Paoh, the Betong Fire and Rescue Department reported.
The landslides caused by the slope erosion happened after heavy rain over the past few days.
Several units of longhouse rooms were damaged by the debris but there were no injuries. The affected residents have been told to relocate to safer grounds pending remedial works on the eroded slopes.
In Song district, two longhouses called Rumah Kutak and Rumah Matahari were also hit by soil movement due to hillslope erosions following heavy rain.
Rescue teams from the Song Fire and Rescue Department have been deployed to the sites, which are located some 150km from Song town.
The department has advised all residents to be extra alert for flash floods that may trigger more landslide woes.
Last week saw southern Sarawak hit by widespread floods. The bad weather has since spread to central Sarawak. – The Vibes, March 6, 2024