SERIAN: The unexpected rainfall started on Wednesday, but nothing suggested how quickly the inundated downpour situation in Taman Duranda Emas in Siburan would change after nightfall.
By the time floodwaters rose beyond the drains, it was already midnight.
That was when Bibiana Sikare, 37, realised her family had to leave.
“The water came in very fast. My father-in-law called the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) because we have small children – my youngest is just over two months old,” she told Sarawak Tribune when met at the Dewan Taman Duranda Emas temporary evacuation centre (PPS) here today.
Bibiana said she and her husband stayed awake through the night, salvaging what they could as water continued to rise inside the house.
However, textbooks belonging to her fourth child, a Year Three pupil, were swept away by floodwaters, while her eldest child was unable to attend school registration today due to the flooding.
“We managed to save important documents and some school items. My eldest is starting Form Five this year. I saved the school uniforms, but shoes and other equipment couldn’t be saved,” she said.
“Here, water usually rises but doesn’t enter the house. Last night, it rose very fast – up to my waist.”
Despite the losses, Bibiana said she was grateful that her family was safe.
“I’m sad because many things were damaged, especially items for the children. But I’m thankful everyone is safe,” she added.
Flooding in the area has occurred before, but this time residents were relocated to a nearby hall as conditions worsened overnight.
Community chief Philip Sunking, 61, said the water runoff from nearby hills met with a king tide at about 4pm caused water to overflow, with conditions deteriorating late at night as rain continued.
“At about midnight, water started entering homes. I opened the hall immediately,” he said.
With access roads submerged to about two feet, firefighters later used boats to evacuate affected residents.
“In previous floods, evacuees were taken to the Siburan fire station. This is the first time Dewan Taman Duranda Emas is being used as a PPS,” he said.
Philip added that flooding had been recorded in 2001 and 2015, but said the use of the hall as a PPS was unprecedented.
He said more residents could still be forced to evacuate if rain continues, noting that the neighbourhood comprise 1,979 houses from five communities – Iban, Malay, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.
“For now, we are monitoring the situation closely. If the rain continues, more people may have to move,” he said.
The PPS is currently sheltering 188 people from 48 households as of Thursday afternoon following the sudden flooding in the area.
Earlier, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, during a visit to the PPS, said the hall was used as an evacuation centre for the first time following the sudden flooding, as no suitable nearby location was immediately available.
He said the facility would undergo a full assessment by the Divisional Resident before being considered for registration as a permanent PPS.
Uggah, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, added that initial issues involving sanitation and water supply at the centre had been resolved, with additional facilities arranged to ensure evacuees’ comfort.
