KUCHING:Several villages and housing areas around Kuching, Serian, Bau and Padawan districts were hit by floods today following heavy rains since last Monday.

A check by Bernama today found the rain had triggered a mudslide along Jalan Padawan between Kampung Peraya and Kampung Patos.

Other areas affected by the floods were Kampung Sira, Simpok and Kampung Jambu in Padawan, Maang, Sekuduk, Pelaman Payang, Lintang Baharu in Tarat, Serian and Siniawan in Bau district and Kampung Bratan in Jalan Puncak Borneo, Padawan.

Meanwhile, a house in Kampung Garung and two others in Kampung Annah Sadir were destroyed following two separate mudslide incidents.

Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin, who is also Plantation Industries and Commodities deputy minister after checking on the affected areas and meeting victims said, his service centre would immediately deliver food aid and other necessities to the victims involved.

He said he would also work to help repair the damaged houses while urging the related agencies to expedite the mudslide repair works.

Meanwhile, he said a study by the Department of Minerals and Geosciences revealed mudslides were easily triggered at the Puncak Borneo area, as the soil structure is weak following tree felling activities coupled with the continuous heavy rains.

-- BERNAMA