Cracks, cave-ins along rural roads in northern Sarawak due to prolonged rain

MIRI: Rural roads in parts of northern Sarawak are being affected by cracks and cave-ins, thus posing a danger to travellers.

Floodwaters that hit the area over the past month or so have resulted in soil movement, leading to ground instability.

Grace Asong, a villager from Long Ikang, a longhouse in the central Baram district, told The Star on Sunday (Dec 29) that cave-ins have resulted in huge potholes appearing on rural roads.

She cited the example of the road leading to Long Ikang and Loagan Sibong (two populated settlements) where potholes were so big and deep that they can "swallow" a Toyota Hilux.

"These big holes are caused by unstable soil beneath the road surface.

"These damaged roads must be repaired immediately or else there will be more cracks and cave-ins," she said.

Grace and her family were travelling back from the interior to Miri by road after spending the Christmas holidays in their home village when they encountered these potholes.

There are thousands of people like them who are travelling along these rural roads to get to Miri to start work again tomorrow following the end of the Christmas holidays.

The Star has alerted Telang Usan state assemblyman Dennis Ngau of the damaged rural roads.