SIBU: A soil erosion incident is affecting residents from three longhouses at Nanga Tada in Kanowit.

The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) operations centre said in a statement that a call reporting the incident was received at about 8.40pm on Saturday.

“The caller informed that the incident happened due to heavy rain and the longhouses affected are Rumah Jelai, Rumah Berawang and Rumah Engkamat as well as the Sesco quarters.

“At Rumah Jelai and Rumah Berawang, the erosion involves the area behind both longhouses. The erosion at Rumah Jelai measures up to 20 metres by 50 metres, while the eroded area at Rumah Berawang measures up to 20 metres by 40 metres. The incident has destroyed some crops and has affected the livestock of the longhouse residents,” it said.

As for Rumah Engkamat, Bomba said only the drain area near the longhouse and the Sesco quarters have been affected and the areas measure up to two metres by ten metres. It added no injuries were reported and that the department is monitoring the situation.

“Safety barriers have been installed at the areas affected. We also advised the residents to evacuate immediately as the erosion area is inching closer to the longhouse,” it said.