Kota Kinabalu: Thirty temporary flood evacuation centres in six districts across Sabah remained open on Tuesday.
At 8.30am, flash floods hit Kg Dalit Sook Keningau, affecting 15 homes. However, by 12.30pm, the water had started to recede and there was no need to activate a temporary flood evacuation centre in the area.
As of 8pm, the State Civil Defence Force recorded 1,331 households, comprising 3,365 flood victims, in the six impacted districts. With at least 1,115 families and 2,659 flood casualties, Kota Marudu was the heaviest hit, followed by Pitas (307 flood victims), Telupid (216), Paitan sub-district (99), Sandakan (46) and Beluran (38).
The SK Ranau temporary flood evacuation centre in Kota Marudu had the most, with 216 households and 565 flood victims, while the Dewan Kg Bakong-Bakong temporary flood evacuation centre in Beluran had the fewest, with only one family and five flood victims.
With 1,029 flood victims, women continue to top the list of flood victims, followed by 954 men, 729 boys, and 653 girls.
Roads affected by landslides reported since Jan 3 involved Pitas (Kg Saniton Laut, Jalan Saniton), Beluran (Jalan Nangoh Paitan Kanibongan), Ranau (Jalan Bongkud, Jalan Stadium Ranau, Jalan Timbau-Melinsau), Tambunan (KM33 Jalan Tambunan- Ranau). While, housing and agriculture area affected by landslides were recorded in Sandakan (Kg Gas, Batu Sapi, Ladang SLDB, Sukau) and Kinabatangan (Kg Sagaliud Seberang, Jalan Segaliud, Kg Wariasan Jalan Bukit Garam).
Defence Force team deployed to monitor the flash floods in Kg Dalit Sook Keningau (photos courtesy Sabah Civil Defence Force).
In KENINGAU, several areas in the district, Nabawan and Sook sub-district have been hit by floods due to overnight heavy rain. The areas are Kg Tampusison, Kg Penontomon, Pegalungan and Pensiangan in Nabawan district while Kg Bonor in Sook area. Keningau zone Fire and Rescue Department Chief, Yuszaimi Hairrul Azwan Juatan, who is monitoring the floods in Nabawan, said the Keningau Fire and Rescue Station , Sook Sub-District station and the Nabawan Volunteer Team were also involved in the monitoring.
“Flood monitoring was carried out at the Pegalan river in Kg Ansip in Keningau and Kg Keranaan in Tambunan, Liawan and Pampang rivers in Keningau, Sook river in Kampung Biah in Sook Sub-District, Padas rivers in Tenom and Kemabong,
“The water situation in some rivers has gradually receded,” he said. Kg Dangulad was closed to all types of vehicles as it was deep and endangered the safety of road users.
He also advised residents living near the rivers bank and low areas at risk of floods to be always vigilant at all times.
“Follow the instructions from the security forces for safety and not allow children to play near the banks of the river,” he said.
In Sook, a wooden bridge entering SK Bonor was damaged due to floods by the Bonor river and it was impassable for all type of vehicles. A village resident said the bridge needed immediate repairs and gotong royong was done after the river water receded at noon on Tuesday.
“This is to make it easier for the vehicles trapped on the other side of the river to get out through the bridge,” he said.
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