Tuesday February 12, 2013

Families forced to hole up in their homes under up to 1m of water

By PHILIP HII
philiphii@thestar.com.my

Danger ahead: A man tries to cross a flooded road on his motorcycle.

SIBU: While most Chinese in the town areas were busy visiting relatives and friends on the first and second days of the lunar new year, many families living along Jalan Kong Yit Khim (formerly Jalam Salim) and its side roads were holed up at home under more than 1m of flood water.

Heavy rainfall and the high tide were the culprits. According to a resident Yii Chee Fook, at least three sections of the main 28km Jalan Kong Yit Kim were under 0.5 to 1.2m deep of water since last Saturday.

“The water receded by half a metre during low tide but rose up again during high tide,” Yii, who works for a transport company, said.

He said when the water was high it was impassable to motorcycles and small vechicles, so many of those affected had no choice but to stay home.

“It spoils all my Chinese New Year mood,” Yii lamented.

According to him, the problem has been existing for many years and numerous requests to raise the level of the road had been ignored.

Yii said the authorities should now focus on improving Jalan Kong Yit Khim which links them to Stabau and Durin Bridge.

Meanwhile, the traffic on the main streets in town remained light as most shops were still closed for the Chinese New Year holidays.

Only a handful of coffee shops, mini supermarkets and grocery shops were open for business on the second day of the new year.

Business at all the coffee shops were reported to be brisk as most people did not cook at home.

News

Tuesday February 12, 2013

Families forced to hole up in their homes under up to 1m of water

By PHILIP HII philiphii@thestar.com.my

By PHILIP HII
philiphii@thestar.com.my