KUCHING: A total of 248 flood victims here were allowed to return home today (Mar 19) after after taking shelter at temporary relief centres (PPS) following a ‘rain bomb’ which caused widespread flash flooding a day earlier.
According to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), the relief centres namely Dewan R-Piang PPS in Kampung Sinar Budi Baru and Dewan Masyarakat Stapok PPS, were officially closed at 3pm.
Following that, 248 individuals from 63 families were allowed to return to their homes after flood waters receded in Kampung Sinar Budi Baru and Desa Wira Lorong 5I.
On Saturday, they had to be evacuated to the relief centres at 3pm for temporary shelter following non-stop heavy downpour, which had caused their homes to be inundated with flood waters.
The Dewan R-Piang PPS in Kampung Sinar Budi Baru had accommodated 148 people from 31 families, while the Dewan Masyarakat Stapok PPS had housed 100 victims from 32 families.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said that flash floods which struck numerous areas here, was linked to a ‘rain bomb’ incident.
He pointed out that the terminology was identified about two or three years ago through studies conducted on climate change.
“What happened (on Saturday) was one of the unpredictable weather patterns as we mentioned earlier in regards to climate change, it is called a ‘rain bomb’.
“A ‘rain bomb’ is an event when there is sudden surge of heavy rain in a short period of time and it can cause severe flash floods,” he said, adding that it is one of the effects of global warming.
Hazland said this during the Sar-Alam Indah Sdn Bhd’s (SAI) World Water Day 2023 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Saturday.
He stated that this is the reason why the Sarawak government made an important decision to establish a special ministry which is the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MESSty).
“It does not only play a role in dealing with (flood) issues but, it utilises natural resources in Sarawak to generate new sources of income through climate change mitigation strategies,” he said.
