The inundated stretch of Jalan Khoo Peng Loong near Sibu’s jetty. – Photo by Peter Boon

SIBU (Aug 22): A combination of extreme weather and King Tide contributed to flash floods in certain areas here today, said Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sibu Divisional engineer Rudi Abang Zamhari.

This, he said, could be the result of the heavy rainfall in Batang Rejang and Batang Baleh upper catchment areas, which coincided with the high tide.

“Based on the Sarawak tide table, the volume of daily rainfall recorded in Nanga Entawau, Baleh area yesterday was 132mm and this was ‘very high’,” he disclosed.

Several areas along the stretches of Jalan Khoo Peng Loong near the riverfront here were flooded following a heavy downpour yesterday, causing road users to move at a snail’s pace along that stretch of road.

Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Zone 4 chief Andy Alie, meanwhile, called upon the public to avoid water activities during the rainy season and also to wear life jackets when using river transport.