18th June 2009 - River Transport Crippled

MIRI: River transportation services for both passengers and cargo have come to a halt in numerous interior districts in central and northern Sarawak as the water in river tributaries have fallen to levels that make it impossible for express boats and barges to navigate.

Passenger and cargo ferry services plying the Rejang River between Kapit and Belaga (about 100km) in central Sarawak and from Belaga into inland settlements have stopped since a week ago.

The Pelagus rapids, located in the river midway to Belaga, has become too low, and the huge boulders and sharp rocks on the river bed pose a danger to boats.

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