KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 — Forest fires to the north and floods to the south are proving to be a testing time for Sarawakians.
National news agency Bernama reported today a dry spell in Malaysia’s largest state has resulted in forest fires covering some 80 hectares near the Kuala Baram Industrial Training Institute the past two days.
Its check with the Department of Environment showed air pollution to have hit an unhealthy level of 299 in the area.
The air quality in Miri, Sarawak’s biggest town in the north gave a healthy reading of 42 on the Air Pollutant Index, but Bernama reported the stench of burning hung heavy in the town centre.
In a separate report on The Star Online today, Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Law Poh Kong said his men were conducting aerial water bombings to put out the forest blaze that are raging near populated housing areas there, but were being hampered by strong winds.
“The wildfires have turned into forest fires and since the smoke is very thick and dense we have to halt the water bombings for now. This morning we carried out 30 rounds of bombing,” he was quoted saying by The Star Online.
Sarawak’s southern region, including outlying areas near state capital Kuching have been inundated by non-stop rain the past few days, which has forced over 3,700 people to flee from their homes to escape flood waters.
As at noon today, Bernama reported the number of evacuees from Kuching, Serian and Samarahan divisions relocated to 25 relief centres to be at 3,734 compared to 2,869 people earlier this morning.
Eight relief centres opened in the Kuching district and another eight in Bau district while five opened in Serian district and one in Padawan district to cater to the increased number of evacuees.
No deaths have been reported due to the floods as yet, but a 20-year-old man known only as Judus has been reported missing after he was swept away by strong currents while trying to cross the river in Kampung Maang, Siburan, about 30km from Kuching last night.
A search-and-rescue operation for the youth has been increased to a 1km radius of where he was said to have disappeared.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/forest-fires-envelope-north-sarawak-in-haze-while-rains-flood-borneo-states#sthash.Bolo7BIf.dpuf
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 — Forest fires to the north and floods to the south are proving to be a testing time for Sarawakians.
National news agency Bernama reported today a dry spell in Malaysia’s largest state has resulted in forest fires covering some 80 hectares near the Kuala Baram Industrial Training Institute the past two days.
Its check with the Department of Environment showed air pollution to have hit an unhealthy level of 299 in the area.
The air quality in Miri, Sarawak’s biggest town in the north gave a healthy reading of 42 on the Air Pollutant Index, but Bernama reported the stench of burning hung heavy in the town centre.
In a separate report on The Star Online today, Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Law Poh Kong said his men were conducting aerial water bombings to put out the forest blaze that are raging near populated housing areas there, but were being hampered by strong winds.
“The wildfires have turned into forest fires and since the smoke is very thick and dense we have to halt the water bombings for now. This morning we carried out 30 rounds of bombing,” he was quoted saying by The Star Online.
Sarawak’s southern region, including outlying areas near state capital Kuching have been inundated by non-stop rain the past few days, which has forced over 3,700 people to flee from their homes to escape flood waters.
As at noon today, Bernama reported the number of evacuees from Kuching, Serian and Samarahan divisions relocated to 25 relief centres to be at 3,734 compared to 2,869 people earlier this morning.
Eight relief centres opened in the Kuching district and another eight in Bau district while five opened in Serian district and one in Padawan district to cater to the increased number of evacuees.
No deaths have been reported due to the floods as yet, but a 20-year-old man known only as Judus has been reported missing after he was swept away by strong currents while trying to cross the river in Kampung Maang, Siburan, about 30km from Kuching last night.
A search-and-rescue operation for the youth has been increased to a 1km radius of where he was said to have disappeared.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/forest-fires-envelope-north-sarawak-in-haze-while-rains-flood-borneo-states#sthash.Bolo7BIf.dpuf
APFP 2010-2014