After inspecting the extent of damage caused by the floods in Tutong District, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office arrived by helicopter at Merangking Primary School yesterday morning to check on the welfare of people living in the remote areas of Belait District.

From the primary school, His Royal Highness in a 4WD-vehicle toured the road along Bukit Puan, where water level was as high as 0.64 metres.

According to the Belait District Officer, Awg Matussin bin OKS Haji Tuba, the water level was slowly receding in some parts of the flooded zones such as Kg Singap and Kg Laid Lakang.

However, these areas remain impassable using normal vehicles. In light of this, military trucks are available to ferry residents to the Sungai Mau Multi-purpose Hall.

At the Incident Command Post (ICP) site in Kg Sungai Mau, His Royal Highness was informed that police personnel, soldiers and firefighters had been deployed to the flood-hit areas to continuously monitor the situation.

According to the Belait District Office, the ICP was reactivated this week, as water levels in the affected areas had risen significantly. Fortunately, the floodwaters have been receding in the past few days, he added.

Earlier this week, JAPEM distributed food rations to 42 people living in the affected areas. - Borneo Bulletin (23rd January 2011)