PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak government will increase monitoring and preventive measures in areas at risk of landslides, especially in hilly and elevated areas exposed to continuous heavy rainfall.
In a TV Sarawak report, state premier Abang Johari Openg said he had directed the Sarawak state disaster management committee (JPBNS) to monitor areas at risk of landslides, particularly those involving hill slopes in Miri.
He said the directive was issued to prevent landslide tragedies, like the one in Kampung Lereng Bukit in Miri early today, from occurring in other parts of the city.
“I have asked (Sarawak deputy premier and JPBNS chairman) Douglas Uggah Embas to monitor the weather conditions in the state for the next two to three days as reports from the meteorology department indicate rain until Jan 31,” he said.
Earlier today, The Borneo Post reported that the body of the final victim of the Miri landslide was recovered, bringing an end to the search-and-rescue operation.
Miri police chief Alexson Naga Chabu confirmed that the body of 71-year-old Fatimah Dawi was found pinned beneath the concrete rubble of her home.
The other four dead were identified as 41-year-old Sazarena Arabi and her three children — Irsyad Syairah, 16; Nur Rania Syafiqah, 11; and Nur Raisya Syahirah, 8.
Alexson said the bodies of all five victims had been sent to Miri Hospital for a post-mortem.
