Some 2,000 people living in the border town of Tebakang will be without power tonight after Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation, the power-generating unit of state utility firm, Sarawak Energy Bhd, shut down its 33 kV substation because of rising water. SEB communications manager Ahadiah Zamhari said the shutdown was done as a "safety precaution". "Sesco is monitoring the water level and will restore supply when it is safe," she said. Tebakang, about 60km from Kuching, is close to the Kalimantan-Sarawak border and home to the Bidayuh Dayaks and Malays. The website of the Drainage and Irrigation Department showed the water level in Sungai Sadong at 7pm breaching the "alert level" of 8.3m and was now at 9.4m. As water was still rising, the department warned those living along the river to be on the alert for possible flooding. Meanwhile, hundreds of homes in three villages in flood-hit Padawan were without power since last night after landslides brought down power lines. Ahadiah said SEB technical teams have been working since this evening to restore power to two of three affected villages – Sitang and Sarig – but works at Kpg Punau were hampered by heavy rain. She said the landslide brought down 17 electricity poles. At the same time, the search for a youth, reported missing last night after attempting to cross a river at Kg Maan, about 40km from Kuching, continued today without success. Judus Jalina, a 19-year-old from Kg Pancor Dayak Lama, was reportedly swept away by the strong currents. His friend, who was also swept away, managed to cling onto some branches before he was rescued. Latest checks showed the number of people forced to take shelter at relief centres rose to 5,769 as at 8pm. Eight relief centres are open in the Kuching district, Bau (9), Padawan (1), Serian (7) and Kota Samarahan (6). – February 21, 2016.]]>
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