SIBURAN: A total of 17 landslides has been recorded in the Serian constituency following continuous rainfall brought by the Northeast Monsoon, raising concerns over road safety and the well-being of nearby residents.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said teams from the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) had been deployed to assess the situation and carry out immediate repair works at affected locations.
He said both Sarawak JKR and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) had earlier been engaged through discussions at the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) meeting to ensure swift response when incidents occurred.
“These agencies are responsible for restoring damaged roads, repairing slope failures and ensuring that connectivity and safety for affected communities are not compromised,” he said during a visit to the flood evacuation centres (PPS) at Kampung Bugey here today.
Uggah said the situation was not limited to Serian and Siburan, noting that Baram, Kakus and Selangau had also been affected, with reports of damaged roads and severed bridges disrupting movement in several areas.
He added that the Sarawak Government had taken preventive measures in locations prone to flooding and landslides ahead of the monsoon season.
“Last year alone, nearly RM300 million was allocated for upgrading infrastructure and facilities as part of preparations for the monsoon,” he said.
Uggah said the widespread use of social media had also helped authorities detect damaged roads more quickly, allowing JKR and DID to respond promptly with repair works.
