Over 300 residents relocated as heavy rain triggers widespread flooding across multiple Sarawak districts
KUCHING: New Year’s Day brought little celebration for residents across Sarawak as relentless downpours forced the evacuation of hundreds from waterlogged neighborhoods, with meteorological authorities issuing severe weather warnings for multiple districts.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department has escalated alerts across the state, placing several regions under varying levels of caution as the rain intensifies.
Three southern districts—Kuching, Samarahan, and Serian—have been designated red alert zones, indicating dangerous rainfall levels that pose significant risks to residents.
Meanwhile, five central region districts are under orange-level warnings for sustained precipitation. These include Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Mukah, and Tanjung Manis, where continuous rainfall is expected to persist.
Additional areas facing potential heavy downpours under yellow-level alerts include Selangau, Matu, Daro, and Sibu in the central region, along with Bintulu in the northern part of the state.
Meteorological officials confirmed these warnings remain effective throughout the day.
The state capital bore the brunt of the extreme weather, with powerful winds uprooting trees along Jalan Satok highway. Flash flooding inundated densely populated neighborhoods during the early morning hours, adding to widespread flooding that began the previous night.
Emergency shelters have been established at community halls across multiple locations, including Stapok, Desa Wira, Batu Kawa, Kampung Sinar Budi, and several other affected areas, according to the State Disaster Management Committee.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department reported that more than 300 flood victims have been relocated since midnight, with rescue operations continuing into the early hours of New Year’s Day. Families were transported to designated shelters after rising waters rendered their homes uninhabitable.
Bomba rescue units are currently conducting patrols throughout all flood-affected zones, providing assistance to residents trapped by escalating water levels.
The flooding comes as Sarawak enters the peak of its “landas” season—the state’s equivalent of the monsoon conditions experienced along peninsular Malaysia’s east coast. This seasonal weather pattern typically brings prolonged periods of heavy rainfall and associated flooding risks.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as weather conditions remain unpredictable.
