MIRI (Dec 10): A total of 12 longhouses and five primary schools in the Beluru district were inundated on Tuesday, with floodwaters rising up to five feet following a high-tide phenomenon compounded by continuous heavy rainfall since Monday.

It is learnt that the situation has affected more than 2,000 people, including residents, teachers and students.

Marudi Civil Defence Force (APM) officer Lt (PA) Mirwan Shah Masri in a statement on Wednesday, said four longhouses in Long Tisam Tinjar were the worst hit, with water reaching up to five feet and affecting over 500 residents.

He said the areas recording the highest water levels included Long Tisam A Tinjar (34 doors, 178 residents), Long Tisam B Tinjar (28 doors, 145 residents), Long Tisam C Tinjar (38 doors, 230 residents) and Long Tisam D Tinjar (10 doors, 32 residents) – all seeing floodwaters rising to five feet.

“Several other longhouses in Bakong, Tinjar and nearby areas were also inundated, with water depths ranging from 1.2 to three feet.

“These included Rumah Anthony Ladi, Lepong Ajai (three feet); Rumah Apoi Sungai Liam Libau (1.5 metres); Rumah Kujat, Lepong Ajai Liam Atas (three feet); Rumah Janggu Sungai Seputi (two feet); Rumah Sulutan Sungai Seputi (1.2 feet); Rumah Adin Sungai Kelabit (two feet); and Rumah Sofia Sungai Kelabit Baruh (2.5 feet),” he said.

He added that the only area showing receding water as of 8am on Wednesday was Rumah Emah Sungai Liam, Bakong, with levels dropping to between one and two feet.

Mirwan also revealed that five primary schools were also affected — SK Lepong Ajai, SK Sungai Liam, SK Sungai Kelabit, SK Sungai Seputi and SK Sungai Entulang.

“Another school, SK Pengalayan, was flooded up to three feet as of Wednesday morning,” he said. He assured that the flood situation in Beluru is still under control and that monitoring efforts will continue.