Floods hit 6,000 residents; 1,000 houses affected

Rabiatul Kamit
TUTONG

LATEST figures from the Incident Command Post in Lamunin, Tutong, showed an estimated 871 houses were affected by the flooding and another 155 swamped with floodwater as the deluge continues to hammer the district.

As many as 5,847 residents have been affected, while 51 people were evacuated from their homes and relocated to temporary shelters.

Although floodwater level subsided slightly yesterday, many roads in low-lying areas were still submerged and inaccessible to the public, leaving residents stranded at their homes. Electricity has also been disconnected in areas where substations were damaged by the flooding.

“It’s the worst flooding we’ve experienced in years,” said the Station Commander of the Lamunin Fire Station, Yong Fook Ching.

Meanwhile, the Incident Command Post set up at the Lamunin Fire Station remains on alert as authorities carry out relief efforts around-the-clock with over a hundred uniformed personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).

The post also saw support from the Tutong District Office and volunteers from various NGOs, who have pooled their resources to help the flood victims.

Up to 10 vehicles and 10 boats have been deployed by the RBAF to deliver aid as well as transport residents across the floodwater.

The Brunei Times joined a military truck in the afternoon as personnel from multiple agencies worked together to hand out cooked food and water to residents in Kg Panchong.

It took several hours for the military truck to reach nearly all 38 houses in the village, where 480 locals and foreigners reside.

Grounded by the flooding, residents were seen eagerly waiting for the authorities to deliver them food rations three times a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Residents in a flooded house in Kg Panchong waiting for authorities to deliver food rations yesterday

Aid is crucial as many of the flood victims are facing dwindling food supplies and gas at home.

Not all residents received their dinner, however, as the food rations ran out towards the end of the delivery.

By nighttime, the military truck headed back to the Incident Command Post to report the food shortage.

It is unclear if more food rations were eventually delivered for dinner to the remaining residents in Kg Panchong.

Elsewhere in the flood-stricken district, authorities as well as volunteers travelled by boat to hand over aid to the flood victims.

According to the Tutong District Disaster Management Centre, the situation is under control as they are maintaining a high level of readiness.

The rainy season will last for a few more months as Brunei transits to the Northeast Monsoon from December to March.

Unsettled weather conditions with occasional afternoon or evening heavy showers and thundershowers are expected to occur throughout the season.


Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times