SIBU, April 6: The monetary losses sustained in yesterday evening’s freak thunderstorm as well as the number of victims affected will be revealed in due time, says Sibu Division Resident Wong Hie Sieng.
According to Wong, the authorities are still collecting information and data regarding the incident.
“So far, we don’t have the actual numbers (of those affected). The (monetary) losses are also the same because the damage suffered is different from one person to another.
“We are still waiting for a complete report from those affected, before sending the report to the State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN),”said Wong after chairing the Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (JPBBS) meeting on the incident today.
Wong said that most of the victims were located in the Pelawan area, where the roofs of some houses were blown away.
“However, we did not open any Temporary Relief Centre (PPS) because most of those affected are staying at their relatives’ houses at the moment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wong said, the meeting involved various relevant agencies here in coordinating the need for assistance that can be channeled to the victims.
“The meeting this evening is for coordination and cooperation between relevant agencies in providing appropriate assistance to the victims.
“For example, providing welfare assistance under the Welfare Department and so on. Then we will inform the representatives of the people involved,” he stressed.
With regard to the problem of power outages in certain areas, Wong said Sarawak Energy Berhad is currently restoring power supply in stages, with full restoration expected to be done by tomorrow.
He also informed that some of the affected schools also started operations as usual today.
“This incident is the worst ever to take place in Sibu, due to the transitional phase of the monsoon winds that was predicted to occur from March 23 until mid-May, and it really happened,” he added. — DayakDaily
