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FOUR men were rescued by firemen after becoming trapped in floodwaters along Jalan Penerangan, Sepupok Niah, in Sarawak’s Miri Division early on Tuesday morning.
A spokesperson for the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department operations centre said the emergency call was received at 9.09 a.m.
"A team of five personnel from the Batu Niah Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, we found four men inside a pickup truck stranded by floodwaters. The firefighters used a boat to evacuate the men and brought them to safety," the spokesperson said.
Earlier, the department had assisted in relocating 375 residents from 84 families in two longhouses in Sepupok, Batu Niah, after rising waters flooded their homes. The relocation alert came at 12.30 a.m.
"Six personnel from the Batu Niah station were sent to the site immediately. They arrived at 12.42 a.m. and found Rumah Panjang Aron Skim and Rumah Panjang Lumpoh submerged in water. Firefighters helped evacuate all residents to nearby relatives' homes," the spokesperson added.
No temporary evacuation centres were opened, as authorities continued to monitor the situation and rising water levels. Of those relocated, 119 individuals from 27 families were from Rumah Panjang Lumpoh, while 256 people from 57 families were from Rumah Panjang Aron.
The evacuation operation concluded at 6.21 a.m., underscoring the rapid response of Sarawak’s fire and rescue personnel in mitigating flood risks in affected communities. - December 9, 2025