Sibu flood!

There was a flood in Sibu in many areas of the town today. The water levels started rising last night, allegedly from the rains in Kapit (upstream from Sibu via Rejang River). The central roads were even flooded and unfortunately I did not take the Sibu town/Lanang Road route but the parallel one, passing through Jalan Alan (!!!) instead. Jalan Alan is a notoriously low level area where I was also caught unaware during the rainy season last year. I drove through anyway...

I have crossed swords with greater foes than you, puny pool of water!

I did not manage to take any photos of me navigating the Jalan Alan route though because I was too busy doing battle with the water. I felt like I was driving a boat instead of the car and had to rev the engine really hard to keep moving. I feared it would stall in the middle and it nearly did, I think water got into the exhaust and it wouldn't start properly. However, revving the engine (which I would imagine would clear the water out) helped and I was soon on my way again.

The above photo was taken today at Jalan Alan. Two cars stalled there - a Proton Perdana and a Proton Iswara. I managed to get through all right though (always rev the engines hard - amateur advice, but tried and true nevertheless). The Jalan Salim interchange was too much for me to brave though:

You may not pass!

I reckon if that trailer didn't dare to risk it, it would be common sense for me not to pass that way either. For what it's worth, it was really deep, much deeper than the Jalan Alan flood. Here's a final photo to cap it all up:

The police were getting out perahus/sampans (boats) to rescue trapped people.

I got out alright though, except my car had partial amnesia...the front licence plate was washed away by the force of the water pressure while driving through the flood lar. :p

On another note, I'll be flying to KL early tomorrow and I won't come back to Sibu again, I'll be flying straight to Kuching on the morning of the 31st.