SIBU: Nine primary schools in Sibu district were closed yesterday as the roads leading to these schools were not passable.
The Rajang River overflowed its banks due to combination of high water levels from its upper reaches and the king tide.
Sibu Education Officer Wong Chong Kung said the affected schools were SK Nanga Salim, SK Sungai Salim, SK Tanjung Latap, SK Nanga Assan, SK Nanga Pak, SJK (C) Yong Shing, SJK (C) Hang Kwong, SJK (C) Sam Lam and SJK (C) Kwong Kok.
He said these schools were inundated by water and the water level was still rising
“We have also asked the parents of students at SK Sungai Salim, the only boarding school affected by flood to take their children home,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sibu Resident Hii Chang Kee, who is the chairman of Divisional Disaster Management Committee, said the high tide phenomenon in Sibu had caused the Rajang River to overflow its banks and flood Lanang Road with 0.5 metre of water.
The flood had caused all premises along Lanang Road inoperable but did not affect the movement of vehicles along the road.
Hii said among areas also affected by floods were several settlements along the Rajang River, namely Sungai Assan, Stabau, Lanang and Awang Ramli Amit Road.
“So far, the flood situation in Sibu, mostly flash floods, is still under control,” he said.
He said the Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee, led by the Sibu Civil Defence Force (APM), was constantly monitoring flood prone areas in Sibu.
APM Sibu Officer Captain Frankie John Jawan said that as of 12.40pm yesterday, the water level at Khoo Peng Long Road was just under two inches deep and the situation in the area was still under control.
However, he said the water level at Kerto Road was waist-deep as at 11.00am and the road was not passable to vehicles, but the situation was still controllable.
