Disasters

Search efforts to find a Malaysian woman who was reported missing in Christchurch, New Zealand following earthquakes last Tuesday are still ongoing.

According to Ayauf Bachi, chief of the Malaysian operations room in Chirstchurch, they received reports on the missing woman from her friends on the day of the incident.

The family of the woman, who is in her 30s, originating from Sarawak, has
been informed of her disappearance.

The New Zealand Civil Defence team, which heads the search and rescue operations, has also been informed of the missing woman who works for a private company in the city.

There were 636 Malaysians in Christchurch, including 390 students, and they have held meetings with about 40 students yesterday to find out what kind of assistance is needed. The earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale last Tuesday, has caused the death of 98 people, while 300 others were reported missing.

Source

The authorities have yet to announce if there was any Sarawakian injured or killed in the New Zealand earthquake. The magnitude 6.3 earthquake toppled buildings in that struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand's South Island at 12:51 pm on 22 February 2011 local time ,causing widespread damage and multiple fatalities. It follows only five months after the 7.1 magnitude 2010 Canterbury earthquake, which had caused significant damage to the region but no fatalities.

Mirian Jason Lai, who works as a software tester in Christchurch wrote that “Most Mirians or Sarawakians I know are safe and sound, without injuries, although some of their houses aren’t,�? to Borneo Post.

Source

All eyes on Canada Hill, recent heavy rain has authorities on high alert for possible landslides in five hotspots. The authorities are keeping a close watch on five ‘landslide hotspots’ at Canada Hill.

The five 'landslide hotspots' under close watch was not disclosed but the residents there had been notified and are advised to be ready to move out once an emergency arose.

As a precautionary measure, the Miri Resident’s Office and divisional natural disaster operation rooms were now on standby mode round the clock.

The residents living at the foothills of Canada Hill have been reminded to be on the alert, especially at night. They are told to be wary of any Earth movements and other things such as the appearance of visible cracks and shifting of vegetation, they should evacuate.

Source

Miri not hit by coral bleaching

MIRI: Dive sites in Miri are safe and not affected by the current worldwide coral bleaching which has seen temporary closure of a few popular dives sites in Peninsular Malaysia.

Coral bleaching occurs when the sea temperature rises above 31°C for more than two days, causing corals to revert to its original white colour.

Corals are essentially white. The colour comes from the algae living in them. Any stress on the corals, such as temperature change will cause them to expel the algae.

More at TheStar.com.my

Sarawak on dengue alert

MIRI: Sarawak has been put on dengue red alert following an explosion of cases – about 10 new hospital admissions in Miri alone every day.

Five people have already died – four in Miri and one in Kuching – and the number of infected cases is closing in on the 4,000 mark.

At Miri Hospital, new wards have to be found to accommodate new patients, with the city already seeing 873 cases.

More information at source