SIBU, Sept 7: An owner of an wooden house which sits on tilts at the riverbank in Kampung Hilir had a rude shock when three river barges rammed into her house today.
Luckily for the victim, Suraya Perdzi, 45, she and her family suffered no injuries in the incident which happened at 6.10am.
Suraya, who was at home with her three children aged seven to 11, rushed out to save themselves after feeling their house shake violently due to the impact of the collision.
It was believed that strong waves caused by the high tide had caused the three barges to drift down the river and subsequently crashed into the wooden house.
“At about 6.10am, I suddenly felt my house was shaking. I rushed out from my room and saw that my kitchen area was a mess. I was in a sate of panic then. But I quickly called out to my children to rush out of the house,” she said.
Sibu district police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said the police were informed of the incident at around 6.45am.
“The owner of the house and her family members were found safe after they managed to get out of the house to save themselves. As a result of the collision, the rear and kitchen pillars of the house were damaged,” he said.
ACP Stanley said the cause of the incident is believed to have begun when the three barges that were moored at a jetty at Upper Lanang broke free of their ropes, causing them to drift downstream before colliding with the house. — DayakDaily
