Emergency evacuation at school

KUCHING: SK Nanga Budu in Kerian, Saratok, about 280km from here had to be shuttered after the school’s hall and pre-school classes were submerged in up to almost 1m-deep floodwaters yesterday.

According to the operations centre of the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department, the flash flood occurred at about 7am, prompting the evacuation of 26 pupils, 18 staff and six workers to higher ground.

“The department received a distress call at 7.15am. A team from the Saratok Fire and Rescue Station led by Mohamad Hairul Azzri Saupi arrived at the location at 7.38am after travelling 25km,” a spokesman said, Bernama reported.

As of 11am, the water level in the affected area continued to rise, and the team remained on site to monitor the situation.