Miri is Sinking?

Submitted by ian on Mon, 2007-01-22 22:10. :: Eyes on Miri

Yup, you've probably heard about it. The whole town's been talking about it.

Miri is 'sinking'. Or, sea levels are rising. Well either one has the same results anyway.

There's a thread on MiriCommunity.net about it. Some Chinese text and Malay language in there, I wasn't able to find any article in English about it online.

So sea levels rising? I went over to Taman Selera to snap a few pics:

This is how close the waterline has gone up to the food stalls in Taman Selera. This isn't yet high tide. It used to be that the seawater is at least some 10-15 meters further away, hardly touching this wall during high tide, let alone being able to get into this picture. There used to be trees on the left side of the wall. Nowadays, whatever trees left are slowly dying or washed away by the sea, see how only the roots are left?

Sea levels rising? Or land mass sinking? Whatever. My picture shows that whatever it is, we're definitely seeing some changes.

Another sorry sight I'd like to point out too:


Anyone who remembers this bridge at Taman Selera will remember that there used to be a decent stream flowing through here under the bridge. Now it's just full of junk, trash and rotting logs! The stream has now been downgraded to a mere ditch! (sorry for the blur picture, attempting non-flash to avoid attention)

Also, I came across this next to the bridge-drain :

"Keep Our Park Clean"

How ironic. When will people learn to read?

In case you're wondering, yes, this is in fact Taman Selera, the same seaside park where the schoolgirls were bullying another girl that made worldwide coverage and in which Kenny Sia made a hilarious spoof of.

As for the sinking part? Well, I'm not really buying that. We won't see Atlantis in the making. But I'm convinced that our coast will be eroded and destroyed in the near future.

Read about soil erosion courtesy of Wikipedia and Global Warming.


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hi ian,
Submitted by jeff (not verified) on Mon, 2007-01-22 14:44.

hi ian,

Miri is not sinking, just that the sea level is rising as you can tell from the pictures. Due to people around the world that use gasoline and from gasoline that turn into energy. The chemical reaction is call combustion that in turn to carbon monoxide. Since the lot more carbon monoxide in the air that in turn heat up the earth. As the temperature rise this start to melt the iceberg away and increase the water volume. Next time think about where you planning to buy property of course not property near the beach front. This will save you lot of headache in the future cause i know i won't. Save bet Canada Hill will be an island in 500 to 1000 years. Time will tell. Everyone can help use less gasoline in the future.

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Thanks. As I myself haven't
Submitted by ian on Mon, 2007-01-22 15:23.

Thanks. As I myself haven't been to Taman Selera for at least a few years prior to last few weeks, I was initially shocked at how much has changed. The sealine is definitely closer. It was only yesterday I went over to snap the pics.

There was a lot of buzz about this in the Chinese papers, but I couldn't find an article in English online. It was something about how Miri is 'sinking'. I know I shouldn't use that word 'sink' but hey, that's what everyone is talking about so might as well jump on it Sticking out tongue.

As for the global warming, you're right. However, there is no effective possible way to combat this currently, short of sending some water onto the moon.

If such drastic change occurred over the past 10 years (when I remembered the shoreline was far, far away), I can't imagine what it will be like in another 10 years. Maybe the food stalls will be no more.

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Yea. Miri is sinking. Hmm.
Submitted by Cheekui on Mon, 2007-01-22 16:33.

Yea. Miri is sinking. Hmm. Actually I can't imagine that to happen. U know, what are the troubles we're gonna get with all that excessive water later on. Hmm.

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