Published: Thursday August 27, 2009 MYT 2:55:00 PM
Rain brings relief to drought-stricken Sarawak villagers
By JACK WONG
KUCHING: “Lots of rain’’ of late has brought relief to villagers from drought-stricken areas and doused all the wild fires statewide.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said the rains had solved the water shortage problems.
The state authorities have sent millions of litres of drinking water to affected villagers hit by the prolonged drought two weeks ago.
Water rationing had to be imposed in Sarikei and Simunjan disrtricts while in Miri and Sibu, thousands of hectares of forest were destroyed by wild fires.
Dr Chan, also state disaster relief committee chairman, said the return of the haze as predicted last week did not happen as there was no change in the wind direction.
He said there were now only fewer than five hotspots in the state.
“The number of hotspots in neighbouring Kalimantan, Indonesia has also dropped to about 100 from more than 600 at the peak,’’ he told reporters at his office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here.
Dr Chan said the Meteorological Department had now predicted drier weather until middle of next month as the “south westerly wind is coming our way.’’
However, he said the situation would not be as bad as compared to the recent dry spell.
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