KUCHING: Flooding has worsened in the state, with the number of evacuees currently standing at 5,562 people from 1,682 families.
The flood victims are taking shelter at 32 relief centres in Samarahan, Serian, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Limbang, a spokesman at the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee Secretariat said in a statement today.
Samarahan has recorded the highest number of flood evacuees totalling 1,483 people, followed by Bintulu (1,321), Serian (1,227), Sibu (978), Limbang (453), Mukah (92) and Sarikei (eight).
Meanwhile, floodwaters forced the closure of 55 schools with 6,637 students today.
The secretariat said the deteriorating situation has also affected 16 health clinics, five of which have been forced to close.
The five clinics are the Nanga Taroh Health Clinic in Mukah; the Sungai Arip Health Clinic in Sibu, the Ulu Teru Health Clinic in Miri; and the Nanga Tau Health Clinic and the Sangan Health Clinic in Bintulu. – Bernama