BEAUFORT: A total of 109 heads of household, involving 331 flood victims, have been evacuated to the Permanent Evacuation Centre (PPK) in Selagon following severe flooding in several villages across the Lumadan and Membakut constituencies, said Civil Defence Officer Captain Hazlee Shah Abd Hamid.
The evacuees are from 10 affected villages, including Kg Bakalau, Kg Suasa, Kg Bangkalalak, Kg Mentulud, Kg Lubak, Kg Bingkul, Kg Pintas, Kg Jempangah, and Kg Gadong in the Klias and Lumadan constituencies, while others are from Kg Baitam in the Membakut constituency.
The flood rescue operation is being carried out by the Civil Defence Force (APM), Fire and Rescue Department, and Royal Malaysia Police, while the PPK is managed by the Social Welfare Department, Ministry of Health, and Rela personnel.
Beaufort Fire and Rescue Station Chief Ishak Jabas confirmed that most of the evacuees are from the Membakut district.
Earlier on Tuesday, 20 heads of household from Kg Baitam comprising 11 adult women, 9 adult men, 5 elderly women, 3 elderly men, 12 girls, and 10 boys totaling 50 people were safely evacuated from the flood-affected area.
The fire department received an emergency call at 8.45am. Teams and logistics units were immediately deployed to the site, located 20 kilometres from the station.
The fire team conducted the evacuation operation and moved all affected residents to the Selagon Permanent Evacuation Centre using Handalan trucks and several police lorries from IPD Beaufort.
Fourteen locations in Membakut were affected by flooding, including Pekan Membakut, Kg Baitam Baru, Kg Jambatan Baru, Kg Sungai Damit, Kg Lumantak, Kg Limpayau, Kg Kayai, Kg Brunei, Kg Lampijas, Kg Limbadang, Kg Gana, Kg Bawan, Kg Takapan, and Kg Lumat.
In Beaufort, the Padas River has risen dangerously over the past few days from 8.70 metres to 9.13 metres, causing floods in several villages along Lumadan.
Among the affected villages in Klias are Kg Binunuk, Kg Balibata, Kg Bakalau, Kg Melalugus, Kg Melati, Kg Lumatai, Kg Mempagar, SESB Quarters, Railway Quarters, Kg Batu 58, Kg Batu 60, Kg Batu 65, Kg Jempagah, Kg Kitalabak Lumatai, Kg Laboi, Kg Bingkul, Kg Mapait, Kg Limbawang, Kg Lajau, Kg Luagan Sanginan, Kg Cina, Kg Kebulu, and Kg Menanjung.
Villages in Lumadan affected by the floods include Kg Sungkadan, Kg Batandok Lubak, Kg Lawa, Kg Lago, Kg Suasa, Kg Kangsa, Kg Berumbai, Kg Poring Lupak, Kg Lupak, Kg Bangkalalak, Kg Tuhu, Kg Selinseng, Kg Beringin, Kg Kabajang Ulu, Kg Kukup, Kg Jabang, Kg Mentulud, Kg Lupak Seberang, and Kg Bukau to Weston.
Ishak warned that continuous rainfall could worsen the situation and appealed for rain to subside, particularly in Nabawan, Keningau and Tenom.