FLOODS START TO HIT EAST MALAYSIA SARAWAK STATE

KUCHING (Malaysia), Jan 9 (Bernama) -- More than 13O people from 45 families
in Kampung Pangkalan Pantu in the Sri Aman district, near Kuching, have been
evacuated since Wednesday when the village was hit by flood.

Kuching is the capital city of East Malaysia Sarawak state.

Deputy Chief Minster Dr George Chan said the rising flood water in
the area forced the 139 villagers from the longhouse to move to the evacuation
centre at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Chung Hua, Pantu.

"The continuous downpour late Monday had resulted in the longhouse area
being under three feet of water. We believe the heavy downpour and the water
from the upper reaches of the river caused Sungai Pantu to burst its banks.

"We don't expect the villagers to return home soon as the flood water is
receding quite slowly. We will take all precautions to look after these people,"
he told reporters here Friday.

Dr Chan said the state Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) would clear
Sungai Pantu, which was choked with logs and plants, to enable the flood water
to recede fast.

"The DID will conduct a study and we hope the project (clearing the river)
can start this year," he said.

Dr Chan, who is also the state Disaster and Relief Management Committee
chairman, said Sarawak was gearing up for a wet spell.

However, he said the state would receive less rainfall, average of 30mm to
40mm, compared with last year's rainfall which reached 200mm, causing serious
flooding.

Dr Chan is keeping his fingers crossed that moderate rain will not turn
heavy during high tide and resulting in floods in the state's flood-prone areas.

He said the king tide had been forecast to rise to 5.6 metres on Jan 17 and
Feb 16.

-- BERNAMA