KUCHING, 30 January– The state government will assess the level of damage to road infrastructure throughout Sarawak following the continuous heavy rain since last week which has caused several road structures to be damaged, especially in Kuching.

Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said among the affected roads were the Pan Borneo Highway and Mambong in Padawan.

Therefore, he instructed the Public Works Department (JKR) to monitor with the purpose of identifying damaged and potentially collapsible roads throughout the state.

"We want JKR to ensure that monitoring is carried out on roads that are damaged and at risk of collapsing in order to avoid any untoward incidents," he said when met in Batu Kawa, today.

Earlier, he visited the Temporary Relief Center (PPS) at SJKC Chung Hua Batu Kawa, which houses 236 residents from 59 families affected by the floods in Kampung Rantau Panjang, Batu Kawa since Tuesday night.

Apart from assessing infrastructure damage, the state government is also studying the need to relocate residents living in the hillside area in order to reduce the risk of landslides that can threaten lives and properties.

He said the matter will be discussed with the Sarawak Premier to examine residential areas that are at high risk.

"This matter will be discussed with the Premier, but it is necessary to first study the residential areas that are facing threats," he said.

He commented on this following the landslide tragedy in Kampung Lereng Bukit, Miri, which claimed five lives yesterday.

In the meantime, he is scheduled to visit Bintulu this afternoon with the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, to assess the current situation in the areas worst affected by the floods.

So far, more than 2,000 residents have been evacuated to the PPS in Bintulu after the continuous heavy rain caused rainfall to exceed 400 millimeters in a 24-hour period.

To assist evacuation operations, relief assets from Sibu and Miri have been deployed to the affected areas in Bintulu.