KUCHING: The Sarawak government will provide RM10,000 in aid to the families of victims of the Kampung Lereng Bukit landslide.
Deputy Premier cum Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the financial assistance is part of the state government’s efforts to help ease the burden of the affected families.
“We want to express our condolences to the families of the five victims involved in the tragic landslide in Miri on Wednesday (Jan 29).
“For the victims who lost their lives, we will provide RM10,000 per victim to their families,” he told reporters at the SJK Chung Hua Batu Kawa temporary relief centre (PPS) today (Jan 30).
Meanwhile, Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said her ministry would arrange psychological support for the affected families.
“We understand this is a devastating situation for the families, so under the Social Welfare Department, we will provide counseling services to help them cope,” she said.
The landslide, which struck at around 2.40 am yesterday, destroyed two houses and involved 12 victims.
Rescuers recovered the first victim, a 16-year-old boy, at around 6 am. The second victim, a 41-year-old woman, was found at 10.40 am, buried under the rubble.
At 11.30 am, they located the third victim, an eight-year-old girl. Just 10 minutes later, at 11.40 am, an 11-year-old girl was also found.
The last victim, a 71-year-old woman, was discovered at 6.06 pm beneath the rubble.
All bodies were handed over to the police for further action.