Miri Resort City.com | MiriCity.my - Disasters

Sarawakian woman reported missing in Christchurch

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:15:46 +0800

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

Authorities have yet to announce if there was any Mirians or Sarawakians injured or killed in the New Zealand earthquake.

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:57:09 +0800

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

18th January 2011 - Close Watch on ‘Landslide Hotspots’ at Canada Hill

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:48:54 +0800

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

August 5th 2010 - Miri not hit by coral bleaching

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 16:06:00 +0800

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

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:18:39 +0800

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

The food shortage in the Kapit Division has worsened

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:15:16 +0800

Church sends out SOS over food crisis in Sarawak interior

The Catholic Church here has sent out an urgent appeal to the public to help little children and adults who are facing acute food shortage in the remote Kapit Division in central Sarawak.

The food shortage in the Kapit Division has worsened and the people have sent out another appeal for immediate help.

The Miri Catholic Church, which has received urgent appeal from the folks there, is urging parishioners and the public to help these people who are living from hand to mouth every day.

Notices are being prominently displayed in churches in the Miri Diocese, seeking a swift response from the people.

More at Source

Miri Air Quality "Unhealthy"

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:34:42 +0800

Air Quality In Miri At Unhealthy Level, Other Areas Good Or Moderate

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Only Miri is recording unhealthy air quality with an Air Pollution Index (API) reading at 101, while most areas in the country have good or moderate air quality.

The API classification is as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy) and 300 and above (hazardous).

Source

As a side note, considering that I was in Kuching in 1997 when the API reading went up to 890+ and visibility 20m, this is probably not going to shorten my lifespan any more than it already is.

10th August 2009 - 1,000ha ablaze in Sarawak

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:57:30 +0800

1,000ha ablaze in Sarawak

MIRI: Wildfires are raging in more than 1,000ha of forests and peat land near the Sarawak-Brunei border, resulting in a heavy concentration of thick smoke and ash which is choking the people living in the Kuala Baram area.

According to the Miri Fire and Rescue Department and local politicians, some 3,000ha have been burnt.

Miri Division Fire Chief Christian Olas said the fires were most intense near the bridge linking Sarawak to Brunei.

“More than 1,000ha in Kuala Baram district are still on fire.

“We have doused many fires over the past few days but they keep spreading due to the strong wind. New fires keep on appearing.

“Our firefighters are already on 24-hour duty. We only have 37 firefighters on the ground because we are short of manpower,�? said Olas.

More at Source

4th August 2009 - Mother Suffering from Influenza Dies

Tue, 4 Aug 2009 09:20:38 +0800

...in Miri, a 24-year-old woman suffering from Influenza A(H1N1) died at 4am on Monday, a mere two weeks after giving birth to her first child at the intensive care unit of the Miri Hospital.

Her baby girl is safe. The woman was warded on July 17 after she contracted the disease. At that time she was already in an advanced stage of pregnancy.

The hospital managed to help her deliver a baby girl a few days after she was warded. The baby has been handed over to her father, a labourer in his late 20s.

“This is the first death in Sarawak due to A(H1N1).

Source

Our condolences to the families of those affected. Be sure to read through this link to learn more about AH1N1 and its possible preventions.

23rd June 2009 - Clean water for drought-stricken Baram folk

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:51:19 +0800

MIRI: The state authorities have started sending clean water to schools and settlements in the drought-hit Ulu Baram district in the interior of northern Sarawak.

SK Puyot and 10 longhouses, with total population of 3,000, are the first to get the water supply after they appealed to Baram District Officer Joseph Balayong.

The clean water sources ran dry a few days ago.

[ Source ]

18th June 2009 - River Transport Crippled

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:32:50 +0800

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.

More here

H1N1 Flu : 3 on MAS flight turn up at hospital

Mon, 18 May 2009 11:16:03 +0800

KUCHING: Three of nine people in Sarawak who had travelled on the same flight with the two people infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus, have gone to the Sarawak Hospital after showing symptoms of flu.

A woman, in her 20s, went to the hospital for a check-up on Saturday after coming down with flu.

She was quarantined overnight but was discharged yesterday after testing negative for the virus.

Her 52-year-old mother, who was also on the same Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 that flew in from Newark to Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday, showed no signs of the illness but was ordered to remain at home.

The rest of the family members have also been ordered to stay at home. Yesterday afternoon, a young man in his 20s went to the same hospital after showing signs of flu.

He was sent to the quarantine ward for observation and tests.

Friends of the man said that he and the woman quarantined on Saturday and the two positive cases in the peninsula were all friends, studied at the same university in the US and were all returning from their convocation.

Nine passengers on that MH091 flight then took connecting flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching, Sibu and Miri.

Six disembarked here, two in Miri and one in Sibu.

Melissa Crocker, Malaysia Airlines public relations officer for Sarawak, said four of the passengers took the connecting flight with MAS.

"We are cooperating with the Health Ministry and supplying passenger details to them."

As of 6pm yesterday, the other six passengers had yet to report to the health authorities.

Source

For facts and prevention on H1N1 virus, please see here for facts and here for preventive measures.

H1N1 Flu Prevention

Sun, 17 May 2009 16:56:00 +0800

Prevention of Swine Flu

* Covering nose and mouth with a tissue upon coughing and sneezing followed by proper disposal of the tissue.

* Avoiding the urge to touch nose, mouth and eyes in general.

* Keep the workplace / study classes, workstations and clean with alcohol based hand cleansers, especially items commonly shared with other people.

* Staying home form work and/or school upon onset and for the duration of symptoms.

* Assuring adequate and thorough handwashing and use of alcohol based hand cleansers (in the absence of proper handwashing facilities).

* Providing tissues in common areas of homes, common and public areas.

* Encouraging pursuit of medical evaluation at earliest onset of symptoms.

* Use of masks to those who are exhibiting symptoms or who are ill.

* Avoiding contact with ill persons, maintain a 3 to 6 foot perimeter around a coughing patient.

* Call your doctor for advice.

H1N1 Flu Facts (Update)

Sun, 17 May 2009 12:34:36 +0800

What is Swine Influenza?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

How many swine flu viruses are there?

Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.

Swine Flu in Humans: Can humans catch swine flu?

Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry). In addition, there have been documented cases of one person spreading swine flu to others. For example, an outbreak of apparent swine flu infection in pigs in Wisconsin in 1988 resulted in multiple human infections, and, although no community outbreak resulted, there was antibody evidence of virus transmission from the patient to health care workers who had close contact with the patient.

How common is swine flu infection in humans?

In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

How does swine flu spread?

Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What do we know about human-to-human spread of swine flu?

In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.

In follow-up studies, 76% of swine exhibitors tested had antibody evidence of swine flu infection but no serious illnesses were detected among this group. Additional studies suggest that one to three health care personnel who had contact with the patient developed mild influenza-like illnesses with antibody evidence of swine flu infection.

How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?

To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 7 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing.

What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?

There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent H1N1 influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine.

What other examples of swine flu outbreaks are there?

Probably the most well known is an outbreak of swine flu among soldiers in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976. The virus caused disease with x-ray evidence of pneumonia in at least 4 soldiers and 1 death; all of these patients had previously been healthy. The virus was transmitted to close contacts in a basic training environment, with limited transmission outside the basic training group. The virus is thought to have circulated for a month and disappeared. The source of the virus, the exact time of its introduction into Fort Dix, and factors limiting its spread and duration are unknown. The Fort Dix outbreak may have been caused by introduction of an animal virus into a stressed human population in close contact in crowded facilities during the winter. The swine influenza A virus collected from a Fort Dix soldier was named A/New Jersey/76 (Hsw1N1).

Is there a vaccine for swine flu?

Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.

To read more about H1N1, please read here courtesy of National Geographic.

14th May 2009 - Mulu Resort Staff Quarters Gutted

Thu, 14 May 2009 17:55:55 +0800

Miri resort staff quarters gutted
Two quarters occupied by some 90 staff members and their families at the Royal Mulu Resort in Gunung Mulu National Park were destroyed in a fire last Thursday.

The resort's marketing manager Vaginder Kaur when contacted said no casualty was reported in the 7pm fire.

She added that staff, together with their family members and several guests at the resort, had to fend off the blaze on their own as there was no fire station in Mulu.

"The victims are now temporarily housed in vacant guestrooms at the resort," she added.

She also requested the relevant agencies to come to Mulu to assist them in terms of relief and to register those who lost their identification documents in the fire.

Source