KUCHING: The Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) has activated its flood operations room in preparation for the eventuality of flooding.

       State Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said the ops room would mobilise assets and assistance in case floods occur.

       He said SRB had also sent teams to villages along Sungai Sarawak Kiri and Sungai Sarawak Kanan where telemetry stations are located to remind them to be vigilant should the flood warning siren sound.

       "If there is any sign of rising water, we have sirens at the telemetry stations to warn the people in the area to move to higher ground.

       "With the unfavourable weather forecast by the Meteorological Department for these next few days, those living in low-lying areas have to be vigilant and constantly follow advice issued by the authorities," he told reporters during a working visit to the Sarawak River Barrage here on Monday (Jan 10).

       The department had issued a continuous rain warning for 10 areas in Sarawak from Tuesday (Jan 11) until Thursday (Jan 13).

       The affected areas were Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit (Song and Kapit) and Bintulu (Tatau).

       Lee said his visit to the barrage was to ensure that its control system and telemetry stations were functioning well to face the northeast monsoon.

       A component of the Sarawak River regulation scheme, the barrage was designed to mitigate tidal and river flooding in Kuching city.

       Real-time rainfall and water level data from the Sarawak River catchment areas were transmitted every 30 minutes from 20 telemetry stations for effective flood control operations.

       "The barrage helps to control flooding in Kuching. What is important in my visit today is to ensure that all the systems are in good working condition and we are able to monitor the flood situation," Lee said.