TWO BRIDGES DAMAGED DUE TO CONTINUOUS RAIN, STRONG CURRENTS

JOHOR BAHRU, March 25 (Bernama) -- The bridge pillar structure in Kampung Tenang, Ulu Tiram, here was damaged while the Batu 20 bridge in Mukim Sungai Tiram, which is about seven kilometres from the village, collapsed due to continuous heavy rain and strong currents recently.

Kampung Ulu Tiram Mukim Plentong chief Shazrul Idham Abd Aziz said the Kampung Tenang bridge, which is the only main route for 1,040 residents from 260 families, was closed and could only be passed by motorcycles after two of its pillars cracked last Friday.

He said Johor Bahru District Officer Mohd Masni Wakiman and the Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) had been informed about the incident and raised in a meeting of the Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB).

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"DID engineers have been monitoring and so far we are waiting for further information on follow-up actions whether it will be repaired or replaced with a new one.

"Until now, residents can only go in and out of the village using motorcycles. So I hope that the repair work can be accelerated as Aidilfitri is approaching. However, we know that the repair process will take time," he told Bernama.

Shazrul Idham said so far no location has been seen as suitable for the construction of temporary bridges and alternative roads are being identified in collaboration with landowners in nearby areas.

Meanwhile, Kampung Felda Sungai Tiram chief Mohamad Misri said the Batu 20 bridge collapsed on Sunday, causing more than 1,000 residents from Kampung Pasir, Kampung Dagang, Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tiram and Kampung Seri Perdana to use alternative roads through Kampung Sungai Redan.

"So far, it is the only alternative road that can be passed, even though the road is quite far and some of it is unpaved," he said.

He said the Johor Bahru District Officer together with Army Commander Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and a delegation as well as the Public Works Department had visited the site of the incident, regarding the plan to build a temporary bridge.

"All parties have discussed and agreed to build a temporary bridge before the Aidilfitri celebration. The state government will build a permanent bridge after that," he said, hoping that the effort would progress smoothly.

--BERNAMA