LAWAS: Lawas Airport was closed yesterday due to floods as the rising water inundated the runway and its complex.
Sarawak Disaster Relief Management committee secretary Mejar Ismail Mahedin said that the situation had forced Malaysia Airports to issue a closure notice.
As at 7am yesterday, the water had risen to two feet high inside the airport complex.
The airport will remain closed until the water subsides.
Lawas has a population of 35,000 people and is located in the northeast of Sarawak. The town is located between Temburong of Brunei and Sabah.
The airport serves twin otters flights that connect the district to Miri, Ba Kelalan, Limbang and Kota Kinabalu.
Meanwhile, a temporary shelter was opened here yesterday to house 18 flood victims.
The shelter at Trusan Community Hall is the first to be opened in Sarawak following continuous downpour in the district.
Mejar Ismail said the evacuees are from two villages — Kampung Seberang and Kampung Gelapas.
“The temporary shelter was opened at 11am today,” he added.
Among those victims, 10 are children.
