KUCHING: Some 8,000 people in several parts of Bau District were hit by flood yesterday.

Continuous heavy rain and King Tide caused Sungai Sarawak Kanan to overflow its banks and eventually forced more than 50 families out of their homes.

As at 4pm, 17 families from Kampung Suba Buan (including nine that moved out on Friday) had been evacuated after the flood rose to eight feet.

The village became unreachable by road following heavy rain since Friday coupled with King Tide at 5.5 metres.

The evacuees are currently living with their relatives and food has been distributed to them by the Welfare Department.

In Kampung Pengkalan Baru one family had been evacuated; Kampung Buso, 15; Kampung Tembawang Sauh, four; and Kampung Sibuluh, three.

Sixteen Kampung Stenggang families also moved out but were allowed to return after the flood receded in the afternoon.

Students residing at SMK Bau’s hostels were also asked to move out in the morning and then allowed to return in the afternoon.

Four families in Kampung Melayu Siniawan and 10 from Kampung Tanjong Bau had been told to get ready for evacuation anytime.

Roads submerged by the flood were Jalan Taiton (two to three feet), Jalan Pijuru (one to three feet), Jalan Jonjang (four to five feet) and Jalan Suba Buan (seven feet), affecting about 8,000 villagers living near Sungai Sarawak Kanan.

Meanwhile, water had risen to one foot at Tondong Bazaar.

Bau District Officer Tom Hen Mijod pointed out that the flood started to rise since early morning.

The flood operations team would continue to monitor the situation and alert the people from time to time, he said, adding that 24 evacuation centres had been set up in Bau.

According to online data on river level issued at 4.35 yesterday by the Department if Irrigation and Drainage (DID), some low-lying areas were facing major floods as the water in the river was nearing the danger level.

DID’s telemetry station at Buan Bidi (Bau) showed the level at 17.53 metres — over two metres above normal (15 metres). The danger level is 17.80 metres.

Kuala Sungai Maong station read 2.15 metres against the normal one metre, while the danger level is 2.80 metres.

Batu Kawa’s station read 2.67 metres against the normal two metres, while the danger level is 4.20 metres.

Siniawan’s station read 5.94 metres against the normal four metres, while the danger level is 7.20 metres.

The Meteorological Services Department forecast rain and thunderstorms in Kuching for the next few days throughout the day until Jan 14.

Intermittent rain, occasional heavy rain, and isolated rain are expected throughout the state.

On sea condition, the waves would be between 3.5 and 4.5 metres.

The department has warned that any shipping and beach activities would be dangerous. The wind direction is north-east with a velocity of between 50 and 60 kilometres per hour.

King tides will occur until Jan 17 with the highest level at 6.2 metres from Jan 12 to 14.