MARUDI: Non-stop torrential rain has led to flooding in Marudi and Lawas.

Marudi town and Malay villages in the surrounding area were inundated by flood water that rose rapidly.

Parts of Marudi Town Square were also affected.

Baram Disaster Relief Committee chairman who is also Baram District Officer Joseph Belayong called for an emergency meeting with his committee on Monday morning.

He also received reports from various villagers that were affected.

Kuala Tutoh was under three feet of water with 197 people affected, Kampung Batu Bungan, Mulu and SK Batu Bungan (one to two feet), Long Puak, Uma Akeh, Long Ikang, Long Banyok, Long Bemang, Long Panai and SMK Tutoh Apoh (three to four feet) and SK Long Ikang (seven feet).

In SK Benawa, flood waters reached the floor of the teachers’ quarters, Kpg Lubok Mulong was under two feet of water while Long Terawan on higher ground and Kampong Long Maro, three feet.

Flood waters are still rising in Kampung Narum, Kpg Patan/Long Palo, Batu Belah, Kampung Narum (four feet of water), Kampung Dagang, Kampung Ridan and Kampung Padang Kerbau (three feet).

When met on the ground, Belayong said he had been monitoring the flood situation and did not rule out that the situation could get worse.

Affected victims in Kampung Narum will be sent to evacuation centres as would those from low-lying areas of Kampung Padang Kerbau which was under three feet of water.

Belayong said assistance in the form of canned food and rice would be sent to those in need.

The floods that hit Marudi came from the upper and central Baram, Tinjar and Apoh Tutoh regions.

To make matters worse, petrol was out of stock in Marudi so the fuel in Coca Cola bottles sold at RM8 per bottle were being snapped up.

This shortage of petrol should be looked into by the ministry concerned, Belayong said as even the Disaster Relief Committee cannot move to monitor the flood situation without petrol to drive the outboard engines.

Meanwhile in Lawas, the airport was closed on Sunday after it was hit by flash floods caused by two days of torrential downpour. It was reopened yesterday.

The runway was under a metre of water at 12.15 pm on Sunday, forcing the authorities to cancel all incoming flights until it could be cleared of the debris and mud.

Malaysia Airport Berhad Lawas said cleaning work was in progress and it was open yesterday for the 3.30pm or 5.30pm incoming flight at the earliest.

This is the fourth flash flood to hit Lawas airport this year, with the worst at the beginning of 2008 while the incident on Sunday was the second, aggravated by the combined effect of the run-off water in the river and high tide.

The Tamu (market ) in Lawas was also flooded on Sunday as were low-lying areas around Lawas town between noon and midnight.

Among the affected areas were Sundar bazaar, villages in Trusan and Kampung Siang-Siang along the Pan Borneo trunk road.