Bad day for Kuching - Flood that killed lives

KUCHING: Continuous downpour over the last 12 hours coupled with the king tide phenomena has led to heavy flooding in various parts of the city here, and leaving two people missing.

The affected areas include Batu Kawah, Batu Lintang, Sungai Maong, Iris Garden and Satok. Many roads are impassable to small vehicles.

At the flyover from the Kuching international airport, motorists reported that all four lanes heading towards the city are jammed.

From midnight until just past noon Thursday, most of the Malaysian Meteorological Department's stations recorded rainfall of above 150mm. The highest was at the Third-Mile station here, which recorded 208mm.

According to the department, the average daily rainfall for Sarawak this month should be around 50mm while the month's average is usually about 450mm.

In Batu Lintang, two persons reported missing due to the floods have been identified as Form Six student Kho Yong Qi and petrol station cashier Herman Sihas, 29.

It is learnt that Kho fell into a drain in front of the petrol station after she left her mother's car which had stalled.

Herman and a Fire and Rescue Department staff, Talib Awi, who happened to be at the station, saw the girl struggling in the water and went to help.

Talib had grabbed her by the hair while Herman leapt into the drain.

Talib held on for about three minutes until a strong current dragged the girl and Herman away.

A large scale search and rescue operation is now being carried out.

A state flood operations room spokesman said they have also received reports of floods in the residential areas of Dewa Wira and Stapok.

"Several residents have moved out of their homes," he added.

Source: thestaronline.com.my

Today is indeed a bad day for Kuching and Kuchingnites. Many places flooded, roads jammed everywhere and people die. If the rumor is correct, Kho Yong Qi's body has been found. May she rest in peace if its so. But since there is still no news that her body has been found, so there might still be a chance that she is alive. So, let's pray for her. As for Herman, I heard that he is save. But these are just rumors from the web. Hopefully both of them are alright.