FACULTY ENGINEERING AND

BUILT ENVIRONMENT
KKKH 3134
HIDRAULIK SALURAN TERBUKA
SEMESTER 2
ACADEMIC SESSION 2010/2011

Flood in Sibu : Possible Causes, Impacts

and Mitigation Measures

LECTURER : Prof. Ir. Dr. Othman A. Karim

DEPARTMENT : Civil and Structural Engineering

TEAM MEMBERS
NO NAME MATRICS NO.

1 TANG SEE SUI A123510

2 TANG SIAH TENG A124329

3 CHONG KAI LIANG A124647

 CONTENT

No Title

1. Introduction

2. Causes

3. Impacts

4. Mitigation Measures

5. Conclusion

6. References

INTRODUCTION
Hydrology of Sarawak: Average annual rainfall is 3830 mm. 
Total annual surface water runoff is about 306 billion cubic metres (m3).

Severity of flooding: Malaysia is not affected by typhoon, earthquake and volcanic

activities. Severity of flooding is considered mild compared to other countries in the
region.

The flooding in Sibu can be classified into two categories: regional flooding
and flash flood or localized flooding. The most severe flood experienced in Sarawak
was in January and February of 1963, lasting for a few days. This is a once in 50
year’s flood occurrence.

Sibu is located at the middle segment of Sarawak. Sibu Town and its
surroundings are overlain with substantial formations of peat soils, almost unrivalled
when compared to other parts of Malaysia. The peat formation in some parts of Sibu
Town is well over 10 meters in depth. Sibu also located in the low-lying areas, some
areas are only in sea level of 1.5 m, while the tide is as high as 2.2 m. Some parts of
the town are located in particular poor sinking areas, such as the Tiong Hua Road is
usually in sea level of 1.8 m. Most of the roads and drains of the old residential areas
bound by Jalan Pedada/Brooke Drive/Kampung Nyabor and Oya Road need relaying
every two to three years. Otherwise, they will be subjected to frequent flooding during
high tide or after torrential downpour. In fact, a number of houses have sunken beyond
repair.

The flood control is important. Why? It is important for protection of

economic development, conservation storage, river regulation, recharging ground
water, water supply, development of power, protection of life. Flooding led to many
impacts and implication so flood damage prevention or reduction is needed.

Types of works and measures are dams, storage reservoirs, levees, flood walls,
channel Improvement, floodway, pumping stations, flood plain zoning, flood
forecasting. 
 
 In order to carry on flood control, principal kinds of water resources data
required:
Rainfall : Amount of storm rainfall, intensity, duration, coverage
River Stage : Maximum stage, stage hydrograph during floods, propagation of
flood wave along the streams and tributaries, flood profiles
Discharge : Maximum and minimum discharge, flood frequencies, flood
discharge hydrograph
Evaporation: Seasonal and annual evaporation rate
Sediment : Rate of suspended and bed load transpiration

The data above are collected by DID (Department of Irrigation and Drainage),
other agency involved is Meteorology Department.
 

MAP: FLOOD AFFECTED AREAS OF SARAWAK

http://www.did.sarawak.gov.my/hydroen/images/fmap.gif
CAUSES
The possible causes of flooding are due to natural process or manmade.
1. Natural Causes of Floods:
 Low-lying area
Flooding often occurs in lowlands. This is because rivers flow more slowly in low-
lying areas. If the water volume increases suddenly, floods occur. Sibu located in the
low-lying area, some areas are only in sea level of 1.5 m. Therefore, flooding will
occur during king tide or after heavy rainfall or storm surge. Besides that, when there
is heavy rainfall at the upstream area, such as Tatau and Mukah, the discharge flow
from those areas will flow to Sibu. Flash flood will occur if resultant large
concentration of runoff exceeding river capacity.

 The shallower of Rajang riverbed

The Rajang riverbed is becoming shallower due to the natural erosion of coastal area
and riverside. It is aggravated by siltation due to deforestation. The Deputy Chief
Minister (DCM) George Chan led DAP Sibu leaders to measure the depth of Rajang
River on 16th April, 2005. The middle of the Rajang River measures a mere 6 ½ feet.
Experienced juragan and vessel operators assured the DAP Sibu leaders that during
the dry season, the water level will drop by another 2 feet, meaning the Rajang
riverbed can be as low as 4 ½ feet. It proved that riverbed is shallow.

 High rainfall during raining season (Monsoon Season)

Heavy rainfall raises the water level. When the water level is higher than the river
bank or the dams, the water comes out from the river, there will be flooding. The
North East Monsoon, which usually occurs between November to February, brings
with it heavy rainfall. The South West Monsoon from June to October is usually
milder.

 Coastal flooding
Flooding always occurs in coastal areas. High tides or storms cause the water level to
rise. If the water level is higher than the level of the coastal lowland, flooding will
occur. It is aggravated by heavy rains and storm surge. Breaching of coastal
embankments also cause coastal flooding.
2. Human Causes of Floods
 Deforestation
The main economic backbone of Sibu is timber-based but the trade has been
diversified into many downstream products like plywood, particle board and veneer.
Not less important are shipbuilding, aquaculture and palm oil cultivation which are
the other important economic activities of Sibu. Large areas of forests near the
upstream have been cleared due to timber logging activities and oil palm plantation.
The soil is quickly lost to Rajang River because less vegetation protects the soil. This
raises the river bed, so the river overflows its banks easily.

 Poor water management

Rajang River has been heavily silted. Inadequate or clogging of the internal drainage
systems make the drainage system is ineffective, the clogging of drainage by the
rubbish and littering of the public. Water cannot flow into the Rajang River and is
accumulated in the affected area.

IMPACT
In Sibu, every year flash flood had creates havoc among people. It affects the
agricultural sector, damages private property and infrastructure, such as roads,
drainage system, etc. Theoretically, there are two types of flood damages in Sibu, i.e.
direct and indirect damages. Direct damages caused by high speed of floodwater
include:

 Destruction of the drainage system in the cities.

 Water contamination with chemical waste, paint, pesticide, gasoline, etc.
 Drowning of people, pets and animals.
 Destruction of farmland and crops.
Flash flood also has an indirect effect in a number of ways. As a result of flash flood,
the following can happen:

 Roads are broken and hence the whole transportation system gets disrupted.
 Drinking water get polluted, which leads to many health hazards.
 soil erosion and soil degradation
 The sudden onrush of flood can damage crops, which may lead to scarcity of
food and starvation.
 Electrical and gas service may get interrupted.
 People lose their business or occupation.
 Growth of economic productivity becomes slow.

However, the frequent floods have not only caused property damages to the residents
in Sibu, but have also jacked up the price of food, especially vegetables. Scanty
vegetable supply has resulted in vegetables becoming more expensive then meat.
The most devastating impact of flash flood on the geographical location of the Sibu is
that it changes the direction of the river. The river has overflowed its banks because of
bottlenecks and heavy siltation, so much so that the channel has become very shallow.
After many year, the Rejang Riverbed now become more shallow than before,
because of the heavy siltation, caused by uncontrolled and indiscriminate logging
upstream. In 20 over years, the ecology of down stream Sibu had changed. Riverine
traffic had decreased.
 The water is brownish

This is one of the worst hit areas in Sibu town, the Merlin region. Even if it’s not the
flood season, heavy, overnight downpour would also turn this area into virtually a
lake. Residence in this area had, over the years, got used to this customary flood
season. It comes every year during the Christmas, and then the Chinese New Year.
 This road, like many in Sibu, is dangerously designed and built with no proper
barrier from the drain. The drain is wide and deep enough to be called a stream. This
is a 4-way junction where cars, motorbikes, and cyclists goes vice versa every day.
The road is so narrow that if two 4×4 pick-ups is going head-to-head directions, they
have to slow down and make sure they do not scratch each other, while at the same
time, watch their distance from the drain.

Motorcycles are parked on higher grounds to prevent them from being damaged by
the flood.
Jalan Hua Kiew. Whenever there’s a flood in Sibu, this road sure get its share of
water.

Trash and rubbish at Jalan Hua Kiew.

 People had to park their cars on higher grounds to prevent damage to their car.

MITIGATION MEASURES
Currently Sibu Government implemented several solutions to solve the problem of
flood:
1. Dredging and straightening of river channel
Straighten river increases speed of flow to remove water from affected areas.
However, flooding may be happen downstream instead as flood water is carried there
faster. More erosion occurs downstream because the river flows faster. Altering river
channels disturbs wildlife habitats. Dredging makes channel deeper so can hold more
water.
The prime cause of the flood is Rajang riverbed is shallower. The shallowing of
Rajang riverbed is caused by siltation, the result of incessant and indiscriminate
logging upstream. Besides that, the removal of the catchment area upstream due to oil
palm plantation and logging has also caused rainwater to rush downstream
unimpeded. The shallow waterbed forces water to overflow the banks. Dredging will
increase the capacity or volume of water flow.
Besides that, sand from the Rajang River can be dredged to reduce flood but can also
be used for landfills, road fills, and above all, for the construction sites, since sand is
an essential building material. The low-lying roads and areas in Sibu can be filled by
sand from the Rajang River too.
Dredging may partially and temporarily alleviate the flood problem but is not a
permanent solution. A holistic approach must be taken and a long term solution is
necessary.

2. Levee system (Dike) and pumping station construction

The river can hold more water and prevents river from overflowing.
 3. Upgrade Drainage System
Flash flooding is the result of heavy downpour in a localized area and the inadequate
drainage system to discharge the water. Efficient drainage system can help to alleviate
the flood problem In Sibu. Clearing the clogged drains ensures that flood water will
flow into the Rajang River instead of being accumulated in the affected area.
However, floods are now more frequent in the low-lying areas due to siltation of
Rajang River. The flood water comes in faster and it flushes off faster. This means
that this solution just can solve instant problem only but still got disadvantages.

4. Increase the height of road as bunds

This may temporarily alleviate the flood problem. Since Sibu is built literally on deep
peat and swamp, the road will face settlement problem after a few year later. This
method needs a lot of maintenance and therefore not so practical.

Other solutions to solve the problem of flood:

1) Construction of dams and reservoirs at the upper catchments
Dams are huge walls built across rivers. It store floodwater so that control the
discharge of the river. A reservoir is formed behind the dam. Floodwater is caught by
the dam which prevents flooding downstream. The water is released as a steady flow
throughout the year. Turbines are often built into the dams which generate electricity.
But wildlife may be affected like fish migrating upstream to breeding grounds. It can
also cause increased river erosion downstream as there is less sediment being
deposited. The flooding of the Bakun Dam, in Belaga district has begun in October
14, 2010.
 Bakun Dam: Upstream view of 207 metre high Concrete Face

2) Afforestation
Trees are replanted near to the river and the source. This can reduce runoff.

3) Landuse zoning
It restricts development to uses unaffected by flooding.
Conclusion
In order to solve flood problem in Sibu, we need a combination solution, in
short term and long term measurement. We need to think carefully in designing the
drainage system in Sibu since it is built literally on deep peat and swamp. If the drains
are designed as concrete drains then it will face sinking problem (settlement) and
crack in the future, even with piles. If the drains are of earth excavated drains, then
the gradient is impossible to maintain, this will slower the rainwater cause the silt and
sludge settle in the drain. There are engineering solutions to construct infrastructure
over all types of soil (or swamp), all at a cost.
Although we have the best facilities it will turn into useless at least we have
good maintenance. Education and awareness about the importance of protecting forest
form illegal logging and afforestation is generally low and this hinders efforts to solve
flood problem.

REFERENCES
Ahmad Jamalluddin Shaaban, Badaruddin Mahyudin. WATER ISSUES AND
MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA. Consultation Meeting on Development of the Eco
Efficient Water Infrastructure for Socio-Economic Development in Asia and the
Pacific Region, March 2009
Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Hydrological data. Hydrology Branch,
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
DR DAVID J. TYLER. A post-Flood Solution to the Chalk Problem.
http://creation.com/images/pdfs/tj/j10_1/j10_1_107-113.pdf , CENTech.J.,vol. 10, no.
1,1996
N/A. Flooding 6 Solutions To Flooding.
http://www.slideshare.net/tudorgeog/flooding-6-solutions-to-flooding-1995276
http://holeng.dapsarawak.com/?p=175
http://www.alexallied.com/photography/the-great-flood-in-sibu
http://holeng.dapsarawak.com/?cat=30